Developing　efficient　anode　catalysts　for　direct　ammonia　solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(NH3-SOFCs)　under　intermediate-temperatures　is　of　great　importance,　in　support　of　hydrogen　economy　via　ammonia　utilization.　In　the　present　work,　the　pyrochlore-type　La2Zr2−xNixO7+δ　(LZNx,　x　=　0,　0.02,　0.05,　0.08,　0.10)　oxides　were　synthesized　as　potential　anode　catalysts　of　NH3-SOFCs　due　to　the　abundant　Frankel　defect　that　contributes　to　the　good　conductivity　and　oxygen　ion　mobility　capacity.　The　effects　of　different　content　of　Ni2+　doping　on　the　crystal　structure,　surface　morphology,　thermal　matching　with　YSZ　(Yttria-stabilized　zirconia),　conductivity,　and　electrochemical　performance　of　pyrochlore　oxides　were　examined　using　different　characterization　techniques.　The　findings　indicate　that　the　LZNx　oxide　behaves　as　an　n-type　semiconductor　and　exhibits　an　excellent　high-temperature　chemical　compatibility　and　thermal　matching　with　the　YSZ　electrolyte.　Furthermore,　LZN0.05　exhibits　the　smallest　conductive　band　potential　and　bandgap,　making　it　have　a　higher　power　density　as　anode　material　for　NH3-SOFCs　compared　to　other　anodes.　As　a　result,　the　maximum　power　density　of　the　LZN0.05-40YSZ　composite　anode　reaches　100.86　mW/cm2　at　800　°C,　which　is　1.8　times　greater　than　that　of　NiO-based　NH3-SOFCs　(56.75　mW/cm2)　under　identical　flow　rate　and　temperature　conditions.　The　extended　durability　indicates　that　the　NH3-SOFCs　utilizing　the　LZN0.05-40YSZ　composite　anode　exhibits　a　negligible　voltage　degradation　following　uninterrupted　operation　at　800　°C　for　100　h.　©　Higher　Education　Press　2024.