TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The electrolyte comprises a solid polymer proton exchange membrane. The anode and cathode are arranged on opposite sides of the solid polymer proton exchange membrane. The solid polymer exchange membrane comprises a perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer. The electrolyte is impervious to the liquid fuel solution. Preferred Property: The solid polymer electrolyte has a thickness (t), where: tat leastnfDfCfKf/tauj-cf.Cf = fuel concentration over the anode;Df = effective diffusivity of the fuel in the solid polymer electrolyte;Kf = equilibrium constant for partition coefficient for the fuel into the solid polymer electrolyte membrane;tau = faraday's constant;nf = number of electrons released when 1 mole of the fuel is oxidized;andj-cf = an empirically determined crossover rate of fuel below which the fuel cell does not operate.The solid polymer electrolyte is operative to limit the fuel crossover to an amount less than that required to produce 30 ma/cm2 at 25degreesC.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The fuel solution contains (wt.%): formic acid (between 25-65); and water (at least30). The oxidizer comprises humidified air or dry air, and formic acid concentration is between 50-70 or between 20-40 wt.%, respectively. The liquid fuel solution contains organic (at least10, preferably at least25 wt.%). Preferred Property: The liquid fuel solution has a freezing point below 0, preferably below -10degreesC. Preferred Component: The fuel solution contains methanol, ethanol, formic acid, methyl formate, dimethoxy methane, trimethoxymethane, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, glycerol, formaldehyde, dimethyl ether, methyl ethyl ether, diethylether, or other alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, or esters, and/or water. It includes an anti-freeze, which is an inorganic acid, and hydrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Component: The anode is configured to promote reaction of the formic acid via a direct path that avoids formation of a carbon monoxide intermediate. It is configured to promote the dehydrogenation of the formic acid to carbon dioxide and hydrogen+, without the formation of the carbon monoxide intermediate. The anode enclosure has a carbon dioxide vent passage(s). The direct organic fuel cell includes an anode catalyst containing metal nanoparticles, having a coating of a second metal on their surface. The coating comprises discrete islands on the metal nanoparticles. The anode catalyst has a different surface and bulk composition. Preferred Property: The cell is operative to produce a power density of at least20, preferably at least60 mW/cm2, a current of at least5, preferably at least10 mA/cm2 at a voltage of 0.7 V, a current of at least5 mA/cm2 at a voltage of 0.8 V, or an output current of at least1 mA/cm2, at a voltage of at least0.3 V, when operating at 25degreesC. The vent passage is tubular shaped and is made of a hydrophobic material, has a length to diameter ratio of at least0.5 and a diameter of less than 1/16 inch. The anode catalyst has a loading of between 0.5-12 gm/cm2. The coating is not more than 3 nm thick. The catalyst is operable to oxidize formic acid to produce a current of greater than 1 muAcm-2 at 0.27 V, with respect to RHE (sic) at 25degreesC. Preferred Parameter: The spontaneous deposition is performed more than one time, but less than 4 times.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The metal nanoparticles are platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhenium, iridium, gold, silver, cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, or manganese. The coating is made of platinum, palladium, and/or ruthenium.