A fuel cell (120, 121, 122), comprising: an ion conducting component (118; 202); two or more electrode coatings (116A, 116C; 166C; 286, 288; 314, 354); and one or more fuel cell connection components (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 262a, 270, 306, 346), the fuel cell connection components comprising an interface region (226; 246; 256; 266; 266a; 276; 318a, 318b, 358a, 358b) having a first surface and a second surface, in which the first surface of the interface is in contact with the ion conducting component, wherein the interface region includes one or more materials that are electrically non-conductive, ionically non-conductive, or both; an electron conducting component (112A, 112B; 218; 228; 238; 248; 258; 268; 268a; 278; 284; 306A, 306B, 346A, 346B) having two surfaces and a length that is parallel to the two surfaces of the electron conducting component, wherein one of the surfaces of the electron conducting component is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the interface region, characterized in that the electron conducting component comprises conductive fibers oriented approximately parallel to the two surfaces of the electron conducting component and oriented at an angle of greater than 0° and less than 90° to one of the electrode coatings; wherein the electron conducting component provides an electrically conductive pathway between the one electrode coating and an external circuit or between the one electrode coating and an electrode coating of another fuel cell, said pathway extending along the length of the electron conducting component. an ion conducting component (118; 202); two or more electrode coatings (116A, 116C; 166C; 286, 288; 314, 354); and one or more fuel cell connection components (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 262a, 270, 306, 346), the fuel cell connection components comprising an interface region (226; 246; 256; 266; 266a; 276; 318a, 318b, 358a, 358b) having a first surface and a second surface, in which the first surface of the interface is in contact with the ion conducting component, wherein the interface region includes one or more materials that are electrically non-conductive, ionically non-conductive, or both; an electron conducting component (112A, 112B; 218; 228; 238; 248; 258; 268; 268a; 278; 284; 306A, 306B, 346A, 346B) having two surfaces and a length that is parallel to the two surfaces of the electron conducting component, wherein one of the surfaces of the electron conducting component is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the interface region, an interface region (226; 246; 256; 266; 266a; 276; 318a, 318b, 358a, 358b) having a first surface and a second surface, in which the first surface of the interface is in contact with the ion conducting component, wherein the interface region includes one or more materials that are electrically non-conductive, ionically non-conductive, or both; an electron conducting component (112A, 112B; 218; 228; 238; 248; 258; 268; 268a; 278; 284; 306A, 306B, 346A, 346B) having two surfaces and a length that is parallel to the two surfaces of the electron conducting component, wherein one of the surfaces of the electron conducting component is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the interface region, characterized in that the electron conducting component comprises conductive fibers oriented approximately parallel to the two surfaces of the electron conducting component and oriented at an angle of greater than 0° and less than 90° to one of the electrode coatings; wherein the electron conducting component provides an electrically conductive pathway between the one electrode coating and an external circuit or between the one electrode coating and an electrode coating of another fuel cell, said pathway extending along the length of the electron conducting component.