Converting　carbon-based　molecular　fuels　into　electricity　efficiently　and　cleanly　without　emitting　CO2　remains　a　challenge.　Conventional　fuel　cells　using　noble　metals　as　anode　catalysts　often　suffer　performance　degradation　due　to　CO　poisoning　and　a　host　of　problems　associated　with　CO2　production.　This　study　provides　a　CO2-emission-free　direct　formaldehyde　fuel　cell.　It　enables　a　flow　of　electricity　while　producing　H-2　and　valuable　formate.　Unlike　conventional　carbon-based　molecules　electrooxidation,　formaldehyde　1-electron　oxidation　is　performed　on　the　Cu　anode　with　high　selectivity,　thus　generating　formate　and　H-2　without　undergoing　CO2　pathway.　In　addition,　the　fuel　cell　produces　0.62　Nm(3)　H-2　and　53　mol　formate　per　1　kWh　of　electricity　generated,　with　an　open　circuit　voltage　of　up　to　1　V　and　a　peak　power　density　of　350　mW　cm(-2).　This　study　puts　forward　a　zero-carbon　solution　for　the　efficient　utilization　of　carbon-based　molecule　fuels　that　generates　electricity,　hydrogen　and　valuable　chemicals　in　synchronization.