NOVELTY - A ceramic anode comprises a catalytically reactive layer adjacent to and in contact with an electrolyte, where the catalytically reactive layer has a conductivity of less than 10 S/cm. The catalytically reactive layer is an electro-catalytic layer having a thickness of 1-50 microns. The electro-catalytic layer includes a ceramic material, a catalytic material (preferably a catalytic oxide), an ionically-conductive material and/or an electronically conductive material. The ceramic anode further comprises a thick electro-conductive layer on the electro-catalytic layer.    USE - As a ceramic anode useful in a solid oxide fuel cell (claimed), which is used for converting chemical energy of hydrocarbon fuels (e.g. methane, gasoline, ethanol, methanol, sulfur-containing hydrocarbons, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, butane, toluene and decane) to electrical energy.    ADVANTAGE - The ceramic anode is a high performance ceramic anode, which increases flexibility in types of fuels that can be used with the anode in the fuel cells. The ceramic anode for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), exhibits sulfur tolerance and redox stability, and allows direct utilization of hydrocarbon fuels. The SOFC containing the ceramic anode, serves as a high-performance, direct-oxidation SOFC with improved electro-catalytic activity and redox stability, which is capable of use with strategic fuels and other hydrocarbon fuels. The SOFC containing the ceramic anode, exhibits improved electronic conductivity and electrochemical activity. The physical separation between the electro-catalytic and electron-conduction functions of the anode, allows each function to be tested and optimized separately.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a solid oxide fuel cell comprising a solid electrolyte, a cathode material and the ceramic anode;    (2) a method of preparing the ceramic anode involving providing a powder of a ceramic material; tape casting the powder to form at least one two-layered green tape, where at least one of the layers include pore formers; and sintering the green tape, to form a dense layer and at least one porous layer, where the porous layer is an electro-catalytic layer and/or electro-conductive layer; and    (3) a method of preparing the solid oxide fuel cell involving forming a dense electrolyte material having at least two opposing surfaces; contacting one of the surfaces with a cathode material; contacting the opposing surface with a first ceramic anode material that includes catalytic component(s); and contacting the open surface of the first ceramic anode material with a second ceramic anode material.