The catalytic performance of Ni/CeGd SOFC anodes with low Ni content (18%wt) prepared by a hydrothermal method for ethanol conversion reactions was evaluated. Calcination temperature and reaction conditions significantly affected the activity and stability of the samples. Increasing calcination temperature decreased ethanol conversion. This was likely due to the larger CeGd crystallite size. All samples deactivated during reaction under pure ethanol at 773 K. The addition of water or oxygen to the feed and the increase of reaction temperature improved catalyst stability. Scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis showed that the deactivation was due to carbon formation. In the presence of oxygen or water, the mechanism of carbon removal was favored. Moreover, carbon formation was not favored at high reaction temperature due to the reverse of the Boudouard reaction as well as the promoting effect of the support on the carbon gasification reaction. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.