A novel tubular cell structure for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is proposed based on a tubular Ti mesh and a Ti mesh anode. A dip coating method has been developed to fabricate the cell. The characterization of the tubular MEA has been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), half cell and single cell testing. The tubular DMFC single cell comprises: a Ti mesh, a cathode diffusion layer and catalyst layer, a Nation recast membrane and a PtRuOx/Ti anode. Half cell tests show that the optimum catalyst loading, Ru/(Ru + Pt) atomic ratio and the Nation loading of a PtRuOx/Ti mesh anode are: 4 Mg cm(-2), 38% and 0.6 Mg cm(-2), respectively. Single cell tests show that the Nafion loading of the recast Nafion membrane and the concentration of the methanol in the electrolyte have a major influence on cell performance. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.