Polyethylene oxide-ZnO (PEO-ZnO) composite fibers were prepared by electrospinning technique. The structural and optical properties were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). Results indicated that PEO passivated the interface defects and quenched the visible emission of ZnO quantum dots by forming O-Zn bonds with ZnO nanoparticles. To investigate the influence of electrospinning voltage on the PL of the composite fibers, the electrospinning voltage was adjusted from 12 to 18 kV. It was shown that the passivation effect of PEO could be enhanced by increasing the electrospinning voltage, and the fibers prepared at higher voltage exhibited more intense ultraviolet emission. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.