Three-dimensional Ru nano flowers are formed by nano sheets originating from the Ni-YSZ anode layer. The nano flowers are utilized as a functional layer for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cells (DE-SOFCs). The morphology and structure of as-prepared catalysts are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), which verified that the flower-like RuSnano layer is uniformly dispersed on Ni-YSZ surface. These nanostructures show very interesting performance properties for direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cell. With 0.6wt.% Ru in anode, the cell peak power density reaches 264 mSWScm_?S2 wet ethanol fuel at 750S°C. The fuel cell power density reaches 200, 261 and 316mW /cm₂ at 700,750 and 800_oC,respectively. By dispersing a 0.6wt.% Ru layer into anode, the performance of fuel cells is improved and kept stable at open circuit voltage (OCV) for 15 hrs without carbon deposition.