In　this　paper,　Ni0.75Fe0.25　catalyst　layers　with　different　citric　acid　contents　(molar　ratio　of　CA　to　metal　ions　ranges　from　0.1　to　1.5)　were　prepared　using　thermal　decomposition　method.　Attention　was　focused　on　the　effect　of　citric　acid　on　the　phase　structure,　surface　energy　and　coking　resistance　of　Ni0.75Fe0.25　catalyst　for　solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(SOFCs).　The　FeNi3　phase　can　be　observed　in　all　reduced　catalysts,　while　the　grain　size　of　catalysts　increases　with　increasing　CA　content.　The　O-2-TPO　profiles　and　Raman　spectra　reveal　that　the　CA1.5　catalyst　has　the　best　coking　resistance　among　all　catalysts.　In　addition,　the　cell　with　the　CA1.5　catalyst　layer　has　a　maximum　peak　power　density　271　mW　cm(-2),　when　operating　at　650　degrees　C　in　methane.　Moreover,　the　voltage　of　cell　with　the　CA1.5　catalyst　layer　still　remains　74%　of　the　initial　value,　after　operating　in　methane　for　9　h　under　a　current　density　of　600　mA　cm(-2)　at　650　degrees　C,　which　is　much　more　stable　than　that　of　the　CA-free　catalyst　layer　(53%).　Copyright　(C)　2014,　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications,　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.