Direct carbon fuel cells (DCFCs) are one of the most efficient and cleanest energy technologies, especially when using the existing solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) configurations. However, the conventional SOFC has issues of high cost and rapid degradation associated with high operating temperatures (> 750^oC). Reduction in operating temperatures would mitigate degradation, reduce sealing problems, enable less expensive materials, and improve response to prompt start-up and repeat thermal cycling. In the present presentation, we report our research progress about DC-SOFCs operating at 400-650^oC. A variety of cell configurations, material selections, fuel considerations and novel electrode optimization approaches are investigated and implemented for high-performing DC-SOFCs.