We have made extensive efforts to develop various compatible cathode materials for the ceria-carbonate composite (CCC) electrolytes to be used in direct alcohol fuelled solid oxide fuel cells (DLFC). The following cathode materials were mainly investigated: (i) BSCF (BaSrCoFeO) perovskite oxide; (ii) LFN (LaFeO-based oxides, e.g. LaFe0.8Ni0.2O3) perovskite oxides; (iii) bi- or tri-phase metal oxides with or without lithiation. A number of copper- and nickel-based anode composites were also developed for methanol and ethanol with maximum catalytic activity. The tri-metal oxide (CuNiOx-ZnO) cathode produced the maximum power density output of 500 mW/cm(-2) at 580 degrees C for DLFC with methanol operation. (c) 2007 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.