TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The carbon monoxide-tolerant catalyst contains platinum and element(s) capable of adsorbing an oxygen-containing species at lower potential than a pure platinum catalyst which is selected from ruthenium, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, rhenium, osmium and iridium. The catalyst is platinum-ruthenium alloy. The cathode comprises platinum as catalyst. The fuel is methanol or liquid aqueous methanol solution.Preferred Process: The method further involves interrupting supply of fuel and oxidant to the anode and cathode, respectively at predetermined time intervals when the output power of the fuel cell is reduced. The output power of the fuel cell is reduced by reducing the output current from the fuel cell at predetermined intervals which is performed by operating the cell to provide electric current in the circuit for an operating period of 0.5-4 hours, preferably more than 30 minutes. The circuit is then opened to terminate the flow of electric current for a rest period of 1 second-30 minutes, preferably less than 30 seconds and the current is ramped to increase from 0 to a working value for a ramping period of about 5 minutes, preferably less than 2 minutes and more preferably greater than 10 seconds.Preferred Conditions: The output power of the fuel cell is periodically reduced at predetermined time intervals of 0.5-4 hrs, preferably about 30 minutes. The normal maximum and minimum outputs are in a ratio of 60:1. The output power is provided to an external circuit which is switched between a closed circuit condition in which the flow of electric current is permitted and an open circuit condition in which the flow of electric current is interrupted. The output power of the fuel cell is reduced by switching the circuit to the open circuit condition at predetermined intervals of less than 30 seconds. The circuit is switched to closed position for a period of more than 30 seconds.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The current controller of the fuel cell has a switch in the external circuit for periodically switching the circuit to an open circuit condition, and a variable resistor (31) provided in the external circuit for periodically varying the flow of electric current in the external circuit. The fuel cell further has an electric charge storage device (26) connected in parallel with the fuel cell in the external circuit. The fuel cell assembly further has a charge storage device connected in parallel with the series-connected fuel cell stacks. EXAMPLE - A direct methanol fuel cell was operated for 1978 hours with periodic load interruptions using pure oxygen and air. The fuel cell was open circuited for a period of 30 seconds for every 29.3 minutes. Then the load of the fuel cell was ramped up to normal over a period of 10 seconds. The fuel cell had improved performance with performance degradation rate of 2 microV/hr. The fuel cell had same cathode, anode and electrolyte impedances before and after 1978 hours of operation. A direct methanol compact power stack having the fuel cell was operated for more than 1700 hrs at 200 mA/cm2. For first 1200 hrs, the power stack was switched to an open circuit condition for every 24 hrs for 30 min and flow of fuel and oxidant were interrupted during open circuit conditions. For next 500 hrs, the power stack was switched to an open circuit condition for every 30 minutes for 30 seconds. The power stack had improved performance and degradation rate of 15 microV/hr.