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A method and apparatus for generating electricity by direct oxidation of methanol in which methanol is passed through a porous anode current collector to contact the anode electrode of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, an oxidant is passed at atmospheric pressure through a porous cathode cur

A method and apparatus for generating electricity by direct oxidation of methanol in which methanol is passed through a porous anode current collector to contact the anode electrode of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, an oxidant is passed at atmospheric pressure through a porous cathode current collector which acts as an air diffuser to contact the cathode electrode and the methanol is directly oxidized, producing water which is removed through the cathode current collector, carbon dioxide and electricity.

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1. An apparatus for generating electricity comprising:an enclosure suitable for containment of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel;at least one air-breathing direct liquid hydrocarbon fuel polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell unit disposed in a wall of said enclosure with an anode side-facing an interior of

1. An apparatus for generating electricity comprising:an enclosure suitable for containment of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel;at least one air-breathing direct liquid hydrocarbon fuel polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell unit disposed in a wall of said enclosure with an anode side-facing an interior of said enclosure and a cathode side facing an exterior of said enclosure; anda cathode electrode assembly disposed on said cathode side, said cathode electrode assembly comprising a cathode electrode and a foam metal cathode current collector. 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a liquid hydrocarbon fuel is disposed in said enclosure at a level sufficient to contact an active region of an anode electrode of said at least one air-breathing direct liquid hydrocarbon fuel polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell unit. 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said liquid hydrocarbon fuel is mixed with water to form a liquid hydrocarbon fuel solution. 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said liquid hydrocarbon fuel solution comprises at least one additive suitable for preventing impurities which may be present in said liquid hydrocarbon fuel solution from passing into said active region of said at least one air-breathing direct liquid hydrocarbon fuel polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell unit. 5. An apparatus for generation of electricity comprising:a polymer electrolyte membrane having an anode side and a cathode side;an anode electrode disposed on said anode side and a cathode electrode disposed on said cathode side;a porous metal anode current collector having a centrally disposed active region disposed on said anode side; anda porous metal cathode current collector comprising a foam metal and having a centrally disposed active region disposed on said cathode side. 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein a periphery of each of said anode current collector and said cathode current collector is densified, forming a peripheral gasket area. 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said porous metal is selected from the group consisting of Hastelloy C, Ni, stainless steel and alloys thereof. 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said anode electrode comprises an anode catalyst comprising 40% Pt—Ru and said cathode electrode comprises a cathode catalyst comprising about 40% Pt at a loading in a range of about 0.5 to about 1.0 Pt mg/cm 2 . 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein a porosity of said porous metal cathode collector is in a range of about 50% to about 95%. 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said porous metal cathode current collector has a mean pore size in a range of about 10 to about 80 PPI. 11. An apparatus for generation of electricity comprising:a membrane-electrode assembly having an anode side and a cathode side;a porous metal anode current collector disposed on said anode side; anda porous metal cathode current collector comprising a foam metal and having a centrally disposed active region having a porosity in a range of about 50% to about 95% disposed on said cathode side. 12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein a catalyst is disposed on at least one of said anode side and said cathode side, said catalyst having a catalyst loading in a catalyst loaded range of about 0.5 to about 1.0 Pt mg/cm 2 . 13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said foam metal is selected from the group consisting of Hastelloy C, Ni, stainless steel and alloys thereof. 14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein a periphery of at least one of said porous metal current collectors is densified, forming a peripheral gasket region. 15. An apparatus for generation of electricity comprising:a direct methanol polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of electrically connected fuel cell units, each said fuel cell unit comprising a membrane-electrode-assembly having an anod e side and a cathode side and a foam metal cathode current collector having a centrally disposed active region having a porosity in a range of about 50% to about 95% disposed on said cathode side. 16. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said foam metal is selected from the group consisting of Hastelloy C, Ni, stainless steel and alloys thereof. 17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell assembly has a cylindrical shape. 18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell assembly has a three-dimensional rectangular shape. 19. An apparatus for generation of electricity comprising:a membrane-electrode-assembly having an anode side and a cathode side; andoxidation means for providing an oxidizing agent at substantially atmospheric pressure to said membrane-electrode-assembly and directly oxidizing methanol at said substantially atmospheric pressure, said oxidation means comDrising a foam metal cathode current collector disposed on said cathode side. 20. In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, a method for generating electricity comprising the steps of:passing methanol through a porous anode current collector to contact said anode electrode;passing an oxidant at atmospheric pressure through a porous foam metal cathode current collector to contact said cathode electrode; anddirectly oxidizing said methanol, producing water, carbon dioxide and electricity. 21. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said water diffuses out of said polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell through said foam metal cathode current collector. 22. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein there exists substantially no pressure differential between an anode side and a cathode side of said polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. 23. A method in accordance with claim 20, wherein said methanol is in solution. 24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein an amount of said methanol in said solution is in a range of about 2% to about 20% by volume of said solution. 25. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein said solution further comprises a material whereby impurities in said solution are precluded from passing through said polymer electrolyte membrane. 26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said material is iso-propanol.