The electrocatalytic activity of composite anodes, comprising metallic platinum and nanocrystalline Pt-modified Ce 0:45 Zr 0:45 La 0:10 O 2Àd and Ce 0:9 Sm 0:1 O 2Àd , was evaluated for the oxidation of dry methane in a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) -type reactor with yttria-stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte. At 923-1073 K, the total combustion is dominant, whilst above 1100 K the composite anodes exhibit significant catalytic activity towards the partial oxidation of methane (POM). At 1223 K and for a O 2 :CH 4 ratio equal to 0.5, stoichiometric for the POM reaction, CO selectivity and CH 4 conversion over Ce 0:9 Sm 0:1 O 2Àd /Pt achieves 55% and 41%, respectively. Under these conditions, Ce 0:45 Zr 0:45 La 0:10 O 2Àd /Pt anodes possess higher catalytic activity for partial oxidation, associated with the lower lattice oxygen mobility and instability of the Ce 0:45 Zr 0:45 La 0:10 O 2Àd cubic fluorite structure, and provide 54% conversion efficiency with 73% selectivity to carbon monoxide. Further increase in CH 4 conversion and CO selectivity can be achieved by packing the reactor with an additional catalyst, such as Pt-promoted Ce 0:45 Zr 0:45 La 0:10 O 2Àd or LaNiO 3Àd =Al 2 O 3 .