NOVELTY - The valve (10) has valve components (12, 14) connected to a fuel supply e.g. fuel cartridge (16), and a fuel cell (18) e.g. reformat fuel cell, where the valve components comprise biased sleeves slidable relative to outer housings (20, 30), and fillers are contained within the sleeves. The sleeves are pushed to each other during a connection such that one of the fillers abuts another filler to form a fluid flow path through the valve. The valve components form an inter-component seal during the connection, where the inter-component seal is formed before the fluid flow path is formed.    USE - Shut-off/connecting valve for connecting a fuel supply e.g. fuel cartridge, fuel container and fuel line (all claimed), to a refilling device or a fuel cell e.g. enzyme fuel cell, direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) and reformat fuel cell, that is utilized for a consumer electronic device. Uses include but are not limited to mobile or cell phone, calculator, personal digital assistant (PDA) and laptop computer.    ADVANTAGE - The valve allows an internal seal provided by a biased ball to retain the fuel inside a pushrod when the valve component is disconnected from another valve component. The valve provides a lead-in chamfer on the housing to protect O-ring from potential damage caused by the insertion of the valve components. The valve can connect and disconnect the fuel cartridge to the fuel cell and the refilling fuel container. The valve allows a sealed end to be made in small space at a distance from the openings, thus preventing a foreign object such as finger of the pulp from opening the seal unintentionally.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The valve utilizes a liquid retention material comprising a hydrophilic material and a liquid swellable material such as cross-linked polyacrylic acid salt, polyvinyl alcohol, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyethylene oxide, isobutylene-maleic acid copolymer, polymethacrylic acid salt, polyacrylaminde, and polyvinylpyrrolidone.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of unconnected valve components.    Shut-off/connecting valve (10)    Valve components (12, 14)    Fuel cartridge (16)    Fuel cell (18)    Outer housings (20, 30)