Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 (CMO) spinel catalyst has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) techniques. XRD and SEM results show that well dispersed fine Cu metallic particles were obtained after reduction by methane. TPR result shows that Cu1.3Mn1.7O4-SDC has lower hydrogen consumption and exhibits better catalytic activity than the conventional Ni catalyst. As a result, Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 spinel catalyst has been successfully developed as an internal reforming layer for Ni-SDC anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly operating with methane as the fuel. The cell has demonstrated maximum power densities of 304 and 375 mW cm(-2) at 650 and 700 degrees C, respectively, and has been successfully operated at a constant current load of 0.6 A cm(-2) at 650 degrees C over 80 h using methane as the fuel and ambient air as the oxidant. No significant carbon deposition has been observed at selected regions of the Ni-SDC anode after the short-term operating of the cell using methane as the fuel. Using methane as the fuel, the cell with Cu1.3Mn1.7O4 internal reforming layer exhibits similar reaction mechanism to that of H-2 oxidation on the Ni-YSZ anode. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.