Alkaline fuel cells suggest solution for the problems of low methanol oxidation kinetics and methanol crossover, which are limiting the development of direct methanol fuel cells. In this work, a novel anion exchange membrane, quaternized poly(aryl ether oxadiazole), was prepared through polycondensation, grafting and quaternization. The ionic conductivity of as-synthesized anion exchange membrane can reach up to 2.79 x 10(-2) S/cm at 70 degrees C. The physical and chemical stability of the anion exchange membranes could also meet the requirement for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.