In　this　paper,　a　novel　method　was　developed　to　enhance　the　assembly　of　polyelectrolyte　composite　membranes　by　inducing　an　electric　field　during　electrostatic　adsorption　process.　The　hydrolyzed　polyacrylonitrile　(PAN)　ultrafiltration　(UF)　membrane　was　placed　in　between　a　capacitor　setup.　The　polyethyleneimine　(PEI)　was　compulsorily　assembled　on　the　PAN　support　under　the　action　of　external　electric　force.　Subsequently,　the　polyelectrolyte　composite　membranes　were　evaluated　by　pervaporation　separation　of　water　and　alcohol　mixture.　The　membrane　obtained　with　only　one　PEI　layer　had　a　separation　factor　of　304　and　a　permeate　flux　of　512　g/m(2)　It　(75　degrees　C)　for　pervaporation　of　95　wt%　ethanol-water　mixture.　An　atomic　force　microscopy　was　also　used　to　observe　the　microtopographical　changes.　The　regularity　of　the　membranes　assembled　by　the　new　method　was　also　improved　in　comparison　with　the　membrane　assembled　by　a　dynamic　layer-by-layer　adsorption.　(C)　2007　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.