(US5173372-A)      A supporting member for a solid oxide fuel cell comprising inner and outer electrodes between which a zirconia electrolyte stabilised with yttria is provided. The support is formed from material comprising (100-A)% of MgO and A% of MgAl2O4. The value of A is 16-64. Opt. the material can be a co-sintered mix of (100-X)% of MgO and X% of Al2O3 where the value of X is 7-32.    ADVANTAGE -   The support material has high thermal conductivity and a coefficient of expansion close to that of the electrolyte used. Thus cracking during use is reduced.    (JP5082146-A)      Support part comprises (100-A) mol% MgO and A mol% MgAl2O4 (where A=14-64).    USE -   Support is used in fuel cells using yttria-stabilised zirconia as the solid electrolyte.    (DE4203245-C2)      A support member for a solid fuel cell, which has one surface connected to a cell section, includes an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and an intermediate electrolyte, which consists of yttrium oxide stabilised zirconium oxide. The support section consists of a material comprising of (100-A) mol.% MgO and A mol.% MgAl2O4, where A = 14-64 mol.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The support member is efficient and reliable. The cell is used for producing electrical energy.    (JP2948399-B2)      Support for a solid fuel cell is made from a composite material (I), and consists of (100 -A) mole-% MgO and A mole-% MgAl2O4, with A = 14-64. The cell has a surface with a cell component having inner and outer electrodes and an electrolyte of Y2O3-stabilised with ZrO2 (II).    Pref. (I) is obtd. by sintering material contg. (100 - x) mole-% MgO and X mole-% Al2O3, with X = 7-32.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) has coefft. of thermal expansion (value (9.5-11.5) x 10power(-6) degC) similar to the value (10.5 x 10power(-6) degC) of (II), which prevents (II) cracking at high operating temps., with loss of fuel, so that there is no redn. in the e.m.f. (I) has high thermal conductivity and a resistance of over 10power(5) ohm.cm. In addn., (I) is less prone to redn. than usual, since it is inert, and is cheap.