Optical, bactericidal and water repellent properties of electrospun nano-composite membranes of cellulose acetate and ZnO

► Preparation of monodispersed ZnO nanoparticles in the fibrous cellulose acetate matrix. ► The photoluminescence study reveals that the emission features of cellulose acetate does not change with the addition of ZnO. ► Fibrous composite membrane exhibited strong antibacterial activity against the Staphylococcus aureus, E. Coli and Citrobacter. ► The wettability of the surface can be changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic.