Among different designs of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), bi-electrode supported cells (BSC) offer great prospects for superior specific power density due to low weight and volume. This BSC architecture is used as a platform for an anode surface modification study to increase the anode's coking and sulfur poisoning resistance when operating under common hydrocarbon-containing fuels. Here we report a Ni anode modified by BaZr0.9Yb0.1O3-delta particles that demonstrates stable performance in CH4 (without coking) and decreased sulfur poisoning. The anode was fabricated by infiltrating Ni precursor into a porous YSZ scaffold in combination with small amounts of Ba, Zr, and Yb nitrates. The electrochemical performances of the modified anodes were compared with blank Ni anodes infiltrated in the same manner. In addition, the structure, morphology, and phase composition of the anodes were studied using X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.