Preparation and characterization of quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/MoS2 composite anion exchange membranes with high selectivity

[Display omitted] •The quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/molybdenum disulfide (QPVA/CS/MoS2) anion exchange membranes were prepared.•The addition of MoS2 could effectively decrease the methanol permeability of QPVA/CS membrane.•QPVA/CS/MoS2 membranes show high selectivity.•The QPVA/CS/MoS2 membrane would be a potential candidate for the application in direct methanol alkaline fuel cell. In this study, a series of novel quaternized poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/molybdenum disulfide (QPVA/CS/MoS2) anion exchange membranes (AEMs) were prepared for direct methanol alkaline fuel cell (DMAFC). The composite membrane was synthesized by adding different amounts of MoS2 nanosheets (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1wt%) into QPVA/CS mixture solution and using the solution casting method. The crystallinity, thermal and mechanical properties, ion conductivity and resistance to methanol of the QPVA/CS/MoS2 membranes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile testing, ion exchange capacity, and methanol permeability measurements, respectively. The MoS2 was homogeneously dispersed in the membranes. The mechanical strength of the composite membranes was enhanced with the addition of MoS2. With the addition of 1.0wt% MoS2, the QPVA/CS/MoS2 composite membrane has the lowest methanol permeability of 0.210×10−7cm2·s−1. This study confirmed that the novel QPVA/CS/MoS2 membrane would be a potential candidate for the application in DMAFCs.