Cone-shaped tubular anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and two-cell-stack based on NiO-YSZ traditional anodes direct utilization methane as fuel were successfully developed in this study. The single cell exhibited maximum power densities of 1.255 W cm(-2) for hydrogen and 1.099 W cm(-2) for methane at 800 degrees C, respectively. A stability test of the single cell was performed with different constant current densities at 700 degrees C in methane. The results indicated that the single cell can be operated stable at high current density in methane. And EDX results showed that there is no measurable coking effect of operation in methane at relatively high current density. A two-cell-stack based on the above-mentioned SOFCs was fabricated and tested by direct utilization of methane. Its typical electrochemical performance was investigated. The two-cell-stack provided a maximum power output of about 3.5 W(350 mW cm(-2) calculated using effective cathode area) by directly using methane at 800 degrees C. The stack experienced 20h durability testing. The results demonstrated that the stack was kept at around 1V (J= 0.05 A cm(-2)) at 700 degrees C. The stack presented basically stably during the whole test, and the performance of the stack is acceptable for application. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.