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BACKGROUND Studies on the surface functionalization of flexible carbon fibers without any substrate by using cost-effective, fast, and practical processes that may provide antibacterial properties to carbon fiber have received great importance recently. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to obtain zinc oxide nanostructures functionalized carbon fibers by a facile, cheap, fast, and repeatable method, and to show their effective antibacterial activity. METHODS Electroplating and electrochemical anodization method were used for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures on carbon fiber surfaces, respectively, and their antibacterial properties were studied by zone inhibition test against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RESULTS The zinc oxide nanostructures on carbon fiber surfaces were successfully synthesized in minutes, and they exhibit effective antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The morphological properties of the nanocomposite were studied using scanning electron microscopy, which showed that ZnO on the CF surface exhibits a flake-like nanostructure. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the composite's compositional, structural, crystallographic, and spectral characteristics. The results from all analyzes were in a good agreement, indicating that the wurtzite crystalline ZnO nanostructure was successfully produced on the CF surface. CONCLUSIONS As a consequence, a method for the surface functionalization of carbon fiber using zinc oxide nanostructures has been developed that is feasible, low-cost, rapid, and repeatable. The flexible nanocomposite structure has a significant potential to be employed as a scaffold in sensor technology, wearable devices, and particularly in medical textile due to its antibacterial and woven-able properties.