Patent ID: 7547486

Claim:
A direct methanol fuel cell comprising a proton conductive membrane a catalyst juxtaposed to said proton conductive membrane a gas diffusion layer juxtaposed to and covering said catalyst, said gas diffusion layer comprising a non-metallic microporous membrane, said non-metallic microporous membrane being a polymeric or ceramic microporous membrane, and said polymeric membrane being made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, vinyl polymers, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polyethers, polyphenylene chalcogenides, polyether ether ketones, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyetherimides, cellulose acetate, polydimethylsiloxane, blends of the foregoing, compositions including other materials wherein the foregoing polymer comprises a majority of the composition, and copolymers thereof a conducting plate juxtaposed to and covering said gas diffusion layer and having a flow field therein, said flow field being in communication with said gas diffusion layer whereby a fuel comprising methanol is catalytically converted to electricity by said cell.