A method of fabricating a nanostructured solid oxide fuel cell includes dispersing ceria and doped ceria nanoparticles in a first colloidal solution, atomizing the first colloidal solution into a spray, depositing the spray onto a substrate to form a thin film electrolyte, dispersing a nanocomposite powder including ceria and CuO in the first solution, forming a second colloidal solution, atomizing the second colloidal solution into a second spray, and depositing the second spray over the thin film electrolyte as an interfacial layer.