Objective Direct methanol fuel cells ( DMFC) have become the domestic and international research focus in recent years due to its many advantages, such as simple structure, high energy density and pollutionlessness. This paper reviewed the principle of DMFC and the study process of anode catalyst and proton exchange membrane was emphatically elaborated. The details in modification of the anode catalyst for improving its catalytic activity were introduced, for example, the modification of the electrode surface by physical methods such as ion sputtering and molecular beam method, and modification of the electrode material by doping with nanomaterials of higher methanol catalysis activity. Emphasis was laid on the studies on both Nafion membranes and the substitutes to remarkably reduce the methanol permeability, such as the modification over the membrane surface by physical means of plasma etching, and by doping with some methanol-resistant inorganic compounds. Several promising alternative membranes were introduced, such as the grafted membranes and blended membranes. Finally, the outlook of DMFC was proposed.