Ammonia　is　an　exceptional　fuel　for　solid　oxide　fuel　cells　(SOFCs),　because　of　the　high　content　of　hydrogen　and　the　advantages　of　carbon　neutrality.　However,　the　challenge　lies　in　its　unsatisfactory　performance　at　intermediate　temperatures　(500–600　°C),　impeding　its　advancement.　An　electrolyte-supported　proton-ceramic　fuel　cell　(PCFC)　was　fabricated　employing　BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ　(BZCY)　as　the　electrolyte　and　Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ　(BSCF)　as　the　cathode.　In　this　study,　the　performance　of　PCFC　using　NH3　as　fuel　within　an　operating　temperature　range　of　500–700　°C　was　improved　by　adding　an　M(Ni,Ru)/CeO2　catalyst　layer　to　reconstruct　the　anode　surface.　The　electrochemical　performance　of　direct　ammonia　PCFC　(DA-PCFC)　were　improved　to　different　extents.　Compared　to　H2　as　fuel,　the　degradation　ratio　of　peak　power　densities　(PPDs)　of　Ni/CeO2-loaded　PCFC　fueled　with　NH3　decreased　at　700–500　°C,　with　a　decrease　to　13.3%　at　700　°C　and　30.7%　at　500　°C.　The　findings　indicate　that　Ru-based　catalysts　have　a　greater　promise　for　direct　ammonia　SOFCs　(DA-SOFCs)　at　operating　temperatures　below　600　°C.　However,　the　enhancement　effect　becomes　less　significant　above　600　°C　when　compared　to　Ni-based　catalysts.　©　Higher　Education　Press　2024.