PVA/Cu (II) complex anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were prepared for direct methanol fuel cells. The complex was for the first time used as membrane material of AEMs. Glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent was introduced to control water uptake and swelling of the membranes. The membranes with thickness of 1 mu m were fabricated using chemical fibers based on the solution surface tension. The complex membranes show good ionic conductivity and low methanol permeability in the magnitude of 10(-2) S.cm(-1) and 10(-7) cm(-2).S-1, respectively. This is a facile, efficient, green, and fast way to prepare new AEMs for direct methanol fuel cells. (C) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1172-1178, 2013