A fuel cell device including an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface defining an interior ceramic support structure and having a length that is at least 5 times greater than the width and the thickness so as to exhibit thermal expansion along a dominant axis coextensive with the length. The substrate has an active zone and at least one non-active end region. The active zone has an anode and a cathode in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween and the non-active end region lacks the anode and cathode in opposing relation and extends away from the active zone to dissipate heat. The electrolyte, anode and cathode extend within the interior ceramic support structure, the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending from within the interior ceramic support structure to the exterior surface in the non-active end region, and the electrolyte is a ceramic co-fired with the interior ceramic support structure.