Patent ID: 8007954

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell system capable of directly operating with a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon fuel that does not undergo prior treatment to remove organic sulfur compounds, comprising: (a) a solid electrolyte comprising an electronic insulator that allows transfer of anions; (b) an essentially nickel-free porous anode containing at least ceria deposited in the pores, the anode further comprising a ceramic, and at least a portion of the anode being bound to the electrolyte; (c) a cathode; (d) a fuel comprising a hydrocarbon having 2 or more carbons, and the fuel being characterized as having a sulfur content of from about 1 ppm to about 5000 ppm; and (e) an oxygen source; wherein the solid electrolyte and the porous anode overlap one another so as to define a region of physical contact between one another, the region of physical contact being characterized as an essentially uninterrupted interface.