NOVELTY - The direct fuel cell comprises a cathode (2) having electroactive catalyst material, an anode assembly comprising an anode (1) having a porous layer and electroactive catalyst material in the porous layer, and a non-conductive porous spacer between the active areas of the anode and cathode. The electrode characteristics of the anode assembly are selected so that a fuel supplied to the anode is reacted within the anode so that crossover from the anode to the cathode has less than 10% negative effect on voltage or 25 mV voltage loss when at peak power and steady state conditions.    USE - The direct fuel cell is useful to transform stored chemical energy into electrical energy.    ADVANTAGE - The direct fuel cell does not require a separator including microporous separator or an ion exchange membrane, has higher volumetric energy density, is compact, membraneless and safer to store, transport and refill when compared to fuel cells operating on gaseous fuel such as pure hydrogen or reformate, and can be simply and economically manufactured with high efficiency, high performance, scalability, generality, high durability and chemical stability without ohmic losses.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The direct fuel cell comprises a cathode (2) having electroactive catalyst material, an anode assembly comprising an anode (1) having a porous layer and electroactive catalyst material in the porous layer, and a non-conductive porous spacer between the active areas of the anode and cathode. The electrode characteristics of the anode assembly are selected so that a fuel supplied to the anode is reacted within the anode so that crossover from the anode to the cathode has less than 10% negative effect on voltage or 25 mV voltage loss when at peak power and steady state conditions. The anode and cathode each have a first major surface facing each other in non-electrical contact and without a microporous separator or ion exchange membrane. The cathode catalyst comprises a platinum group metal. The fuel supplied to the anode is in a fuel and electrolyte solution, and the anode assembly is sufficiently porous for the fuel and electrolyte to transport through the anode assembly. In the anode, the catalyst is distributed through the thickness of the porous layer. The selected electrode characteristics include a porous layer porosity, a porous layer hydrophobicity, a catalyst distribution and a catalyst quantity. The anode comprises multiple catalyst-containing porous layers in adjacent contacting and stacked arrangement. The anode assembly comprises a fuel reservoir in fluid communication with a second major surface of the porous layer which is oppositely facing the anode's first major surface, the fuel reservoir for containing the fuel and electrolyte solution, and a diffusion barrier between the fuel reservoir and the anode. The selected electrode characteristics include the characteristics of the diffusion barrier. The selected diffusion barrier characteristics include thickness, pore size, shape and distribution of the pores. The diffusion barrier is electrically conductive, serves as a current collector for the fuel cell, and consists of a perforated graphitic foil and perforated metal foil. The anode and cathode are spaced from each other by an electrolyte chamber for containing a solution of electrolyte and an amount of fuel. One of the facing first major surfaces of the anode and cathode is coated with an electrically non-conducting material and the facing first major surfaces are in physical but not electrical contact with each other. The non-conducting material is an electrically insulating polymer. The fuel is an aqueous methanol, and the electrolyte solution is sulfuric acid solution. The porous spacer is used for electrically separating and physically supporting the anode and cathode and for providing substantially no resistance to fluid communication between the anode and cathode. The porous spacer has openings with a size greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. The total area of the spacer openings substantially equals the active area of the anode or cathode. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a schematic side view of components of the membraneless fuel cell.    Anode (1)    First outer face (1a)    Second inner face (1b)    O-ring gasket (3)    Cathode (2)    Chamber. (4)