A high-performance composite anode has been developed for H2S-air solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The anode design is based on the requirements of three-phase boundary theory. The anode material comprises a mixture of composite metal sulfide (Mo-Ni-S) catalyst prepared from MoS2 and NiS (1: 1 weight ratio), admixed with up to 10% each of Ag as electronic conductor and yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) as ionic conductor. The optimum composition is about 90 wt % Mo-Ni-S, 5 wt % Ag, and 5 wt % YSZ. A fuel cell using a 0.2 mm thick YSZ membrane produced a maximum sustainable current density over 480 mA cm(-2) at 750 degreesC and over 800 mA cm(-2) at 850 degreesC, and maximum power density 50 mW cm(-2) at 750 degreesC and over 200 mW cm(-2) at 850 degreesC. (C) 2004 The Electrochemical Society.