High density and vertical hydrogenated ZnO/CdS core-shell nanorod arrays (CSNAs) have been prepared directly on F-doped SnO2 (FTO) substrates via a two-step electrochemical deposition process. Calculated band gaps of 3.25 and 2.25 eV were obtained for hydrogenated ZnO and hydrogenated ZnO/CdS samples respectively. Meanwhile, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) investigations verify that the ZnO/CdS CSNAs has a more effective photovoltaic response capability than the hydrogenated ZnO nanorod arrays alone in 1 M CH3OH aqueous solution with a pH = 9. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.