A fuel cell stack includes a plurality of fuel cells each having an anode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a cathode layer, the fuel cells each having a first effective thermal expansion coefficient; a plurality of bipolar plates positioned between adjacent fuel cells having an anode interconnect, a separator plate, and a cathode interconnect, the bipolar plates being positioned between adjacent fuel cells, wherein the anode interconnect is in electrical communication with the anode layer of one adjacent fuel cell, wherein the cathode interconnect is in electrical communication with the cathode layer of another adjacent fuel cell, and wherein at least one interconnect of the cathode interconnect and the anode interconnect has a second thermal expansion coefficient and is adapted to reduce strain between the at least one interconnect and an adjacent fuel cell due to differences between the first and second thermal expansion coefficients over repeated thermal cycles.