High　power　density　and　simple　design　are　vital　for　these　fuel　cell-based　portable　power　generation　devices.　This　study　provides　an　8.6　g　tubular　SOFC　with　embedded　a　catalytic　partial　oxidation　reformer,　which　is　fabricated　and　operated　for　more　than　100　h　using　propane/air.　Nickel-iron　nanosheets,　as　catalysts　for　reforming,　supported　on　α-Al2O3　foam　ceramic　are　synthesized　by　hydrothermal　treatment.　Testing　for　80　h　gives　a　power　degradation　of　about　20%　compared　with　the　initial　value.　It　is　mainly　attributed　to　sulfur-poisoning　of　nickel　near　anode/electrolyte　interface　according　to　transmission　electron　microscope　(TEM)　analysis.　From　TEM/energy　dispersive　spectroscopy　line-scan　results　across　the　anode/electrolyte　interface,　sulfur　as　either　aggregate　at　the　nickel/yttria-stabilized　zirconia　grain　boundaries　or　on　the　nickel　grain　surface,　and　no　obvious　carbon　phase　is　founded.　The　maximum　power　density　is　0.67　W　cm−2　at　700　°C　using　propane/air　(12　vol%　propane),　about　5%　higher　than　the　same　cell　using　20　vol%　hydrogen.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd