Compared with traditional limitations of solid oxide fuel cells employing hydrogen as fuel, researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of using hydrocarbon as fuels. To prevent carbon formation in the anode is an important research focus for direct utilization of hydrocarbon fuels, and effective approaches are used to modify the electrode structure, develop of new electrode materials to obtain high catalytic activity. Ti modified Ni-Sm doped ceria (SDC) supporters (Ce0.8-xSm0.2TixO2-δ , STDC, x = 0~0.09) has been fabricated and evaluated as anode in solid oxide fuel cells for direct utilization of methane fuel. It has been found that the amount of Ti-doping has substantial effect on the electrochemical activity of the anode for methane oxidation. The Ni–SDC anode doped with 0.07 mol Ti exhibits optimal electrochemical performance in methane fuel. The single cells with the configuration of Ni-Ce0.73Sm0.2Ti0.07O2-δ (Ni-STDC) anode-supporter, Ce0.8Sm0.2O3 (SDC) electrolyte and La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ (LSCF) cathode shows a polarization cell resistance of 0.2 Ω•cm-2 under open circuit condition and a peak power density of 659 mW•cm−2 at 600°C. Moreover, the anode-supported single cell displays satisfactory stability, maintaining 98% of its initial performance within more than 30 hours. The results substantiate the feasibility of applying the Ni-STDC anode in solid oxide fuel cells. It has been revealed that Ti-doped Ni–SDC anode not only effectively prevents the degradation of nickel phase in methane fuel, but also enhances the kinetics of methane oxidation due to an improved oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and redox equilibrium of the anode surface, resulting in significant enhancement of the Ni-STDC anode-supported for direct methane oxidation.