The properties and performance of micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells are compared and the differentiating factors discussed The best recorded power density I or a single cell in the literature to date is 11 W cm(-2) with anode microstructure and current collection technique emerging as two key fa c tors influencing electrical performance The use of hydrocarbon fuels instead of pure hydrogen and methods for reducing the resultant carbon deposition are briefly discussed Performance on thermal and reduction-oxidation (RedOx) cycling is also a critical issue for cell durability Combining these individual cells into stacks is necessary to obtain useful power output As such issues of fluid and heat transfer within such stacks become critical and computational modelling can therefore be a useful design tool Experimentally tested stacks and stack models are discussed and the findings summarised New results for a simple stack manufactured at the University of Birmingham are also given (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved