System and method for a fuel cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane photon conduction

A method to create a fuel-cell subgasket active area edge with through-plane proton conduction, the method comprising:

• attaching a first portion of a transitional proton-conductive material to an inner perimeter of a first picture frame-shaped subgasket and an inner perimeter of a second picture frame-shaped subgasket;
• and
• attaching a second portion of the transitional proton-conductive material to an outer perimeter of a proton exchange membrane and an outer perimeter of a first electrode layer, wherein the proton exchange membrane is connected to a second electrode layer, wherein the first picture frame-shaped subgasket, the second picture frame-shaped subgasket, the transitional proton-conductive material, the proton exchange membrane, the first electrode, and the second electrode together define a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly.