In this study, we compared the crystalline structures, optical properties, and surface morphologies of ZnO thin films deposited on silicon and glass substrates by conventional pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and radio-frequency (RF) plasma-enhanced PLD (RF-PEPLD). The depositions were performed at room temperature under 30-100 mTorr pressure conditions. The RF-PEPLD process was found to have deposited a ZnO structure with preferred (0 0 2) c-axis orientation at a higher deposition rate; however, the RF-PEPLD process generated more defects in the thin films. The application of oxygen pressure to the RF-PEPLD process reduced defects effectively and also increased the deposition rate. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.