A high performance direct carbon fuel cell is developed, where Ni-Gd<
sub>
0.1<
/sub>
Ce<
sub>
0.9<
/sub>
O<
sub>
2-x<
/sub>
cermet, a molten carbonate composite, and Sm<
sub>
0.5<
/sub>
Sr<
sub>
0.5<
/sub>
CoO<
sub>
3 <
/sub>
are used as anode, electrolyte, and cathode, respectively. The cell can be operated at relatively low temperatures with power densities of 188, 108 and 48 mWcm<
sup>
-2<
/sup>
being achieved at 600, 550, and 500�C, respectively, when graphite-carbonate and CO<
sub>
2<
/sub>
-O<
sub>
2<
/sub>
mixture are used as fuel and oxidant.