The electrode stability is a key issue for the development of conventional hydrogen fuelled and direct internal reforming (DIR) molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). While for conventional MCFC anodes the stability problem has been addressed by the addition of Al or Cr to Ni, the problems of the dissolution of the NiO cathode and of the deactivation of DIR-MCFC anodes have not been fully resolved too. This review reports recent improvements in the chemical and physicochemical stability of cathode and anode materials in MCFCs and DIR-MCFCs, respectively. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.