Proton-conducting ceramic fuel cell architecture

A method of manufacturing a proton-conducting fuel cell (PCFC) includes assembling a green anode-electrolyte half-cell. The green anode-electrolyte half-cell includes an electrolyte layer, an anode functional layer adjacent the electrolyte layer, an anode substrate layer adjacent the electrolyte layer, and a stress balancing layer adjacent the anode substrate layer. The method further includes sintering the green anode-electrolyte half-cell using solid state reaction sintering to form an anode-electrolyte half-cell.