Ni-doped perovskite anodes have been investigated for oxidation of hydrogen in IT-SOFC. Perovskite materials are characterized by mixed electronic-ionic conductivity that combined to the high intrinsic catalytic activity of Ni allows to achieve high reaction rates. Suitable power densities of about 420 mW/cm(2) for the direct oxidation of hydrogen were achieved at 800 degrees C. Temperature programmed reduction analysis carried out in hydrogen reveals that the catalyst at 800 degrees C has totally lost the perovskite structure showing formation of substructures such as NiOOH and NiLa2O4. (c) 2008 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.