Tailoring the surface chemistry of oxides has been widely used to adjust their catalytic behavior in the energy conversion and storage devices. Herein, nanorods of Ni2+-doped ceria (Ce1-xNixO2-δ, x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) are synthesized via a modified hydrothermal method, and evaluated as the anode catalysts for reduced-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). X-Ray diffraction patterns of as-synthesized powders in air imply successful incorporation of Ni2+ into the fluorite lattice of ceria for x = 0.05 and 0.1, with a secondary phase of NiO observed for x = 0.15. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination confirms a rod-like morphology with a diameter of 10–13 nm and a length of 55–105 nm. Exposure of these powders in H2 at 600°C results in exsolution of some spherical Ni particles of 11 nm in diameter. Electrochemical measurements on both symmetrical anode fuel cells and functioning cathode-supported fuel cells show an order of the catalytic activity toward hydrogen oxidation - CeO2-δ < Ce0·95Ni0·05O2-δ < Ce0·9Ni0·1O2-δ. The anode polarization resistances in 97% H2 – 3% H2O are 0.24, 0.31 and 0.37 Ω⋅cm2 for Ce0·9Ni0·1O2-δ, Ce0·95Ni0·05O2-δ and CeO2-δ at 600°C, respectively. Thin (La0·9Sr0.1) (Ga0.8Mg0.2)O3-δ-electrolyte fuel cells with nanostructured SmBa0.5Sr0·5Co2O5+δ cathodes and Ce0·9Ni0·1O2-δ anodes yield the highest power densities among the investigated series of anodes, e.g., 820 mW⋅cm−2 in 97% H2 – 3% H2O and 598 mW⋅cm−2 in 68% CH3OH - 32% N2. XPS analyses of reduced nanorods indicate that the highest catalytic activities of Ce0·9Ni0·1O2-δ toward fuel oxidation reactions should be correlated to the presence of highly active Ni nanoparticles and increased surface active oxygen, as confirmed by substantially facilitated extraction of the lattice oxygen on the surface by H2 in temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) measurements.