Ceria-salt composites represent one type of promising electrolyte candidates for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells (LT-SOFCs), in which ceria-carbonate attracts particular attention because of its impressive ionic conductivity and unique hybrid ionic conduction behavior compared with the commonly used single-phase electrolyte materials. It has been demonstrated that the introduction of carbonate in these new ceria-based composite materials initiates multi new functionalities over single-phase oxide, which therefore needs a comprehensive understanding and review focus. In this review, the roles of carbonate in the ceria-carbonate composites and composite electrolyte-based LT-SOFCs are analyzed from the aspects of sintering aid, electrolyte densification reagent, electrolyte/electrode interfacial glue' and sources of super oxygen ionic and proton conduction, as well as the oxygen reduction reaction promoter for the first time. This summary remarks the significance of carbonate in the ceria-carbonate composites for low temperature, 300-600 degrees C, SOFCs and related highly efficient energy conversion applications. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.