In　this　paper,　the　effect　on　coke　formation　of　adding　a　Ni0.75Fe0.25　catalyst　layer　to　the　anode　side　of　a　fuel　cell　running　on　methane　is　investigated.　The　formation　of　an　intermediate　FeNi3　phase　can　be　observed　in　catalysts　annealed　at　different　temperatures.　The　catalyst　annealed　at　705　degrees　C　has　the　smallest　calculated　surface　energy　and　grain　size　among　all　catalysts　annealed　at　different　temperatures.　In　addition,　the　O-2-TPO　profiles　and　Raman　spectra　of　spent　anode　material　reveal　that　the　catalyst　annealed　at　705　degrees　C　has　the　best　coke　resistance　among　all　catalysts.　Moreover,　the　cell　with　catalyst　layer　annealed　at　705　degrees　C,　under　a　current　density　of　600　mA　cm(-2)　at　650　degrees　C,　experiences　a　decrease　of　10%　after　operating　in　methane　for　260　min,　which　is　much　more　stable　than　that　without　catalyst　layer　(a　decrease　of　50%).　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.