Self-assembly growth of ZnO-based axial and radial junctions via a kind of two-step method was reported. It was first prepared by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, and then followed by an aqueous solution method to obtain ZnO-based junctions. The formation of the axial or radial junction depends on the sample prepared by the first step. If the microrods grown by the CVD method are pure ZnO, axial junction forms when the sample is put into the solution for further growth, otherwise, radial junction forms if the microrods grown by the first step are doped ZnO. It is attributed to the fastest growth direction in the formation of axial junction and radial junction is quite different. The photoluminescence spectra of the samples reveal that the junctions are quite different from the microrod films prepared by the first step. This work provides a useful way to fabricate ZnO-based junctions, which is important for designing nanodevices. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.