Zinc oxide thin films with the sheet-like, rose-like to flower-like structures were directly synthesized on glass substrates through a simple, rapid, facile and one-step chemical bath deposition method at 80 degrees C. The formation mechanisms of these ZnO structures were proposed. It was revealed that the morphologies were controlled by anisotropic structure of ZnO and the contents of TSC and NH4OH. Particularly, the content of NH4OH played an important role in controlling the morphology of ZnO thin film. Moreover, optical properties of ZnO thin films with three morphologies were also investigated by the UV-vis transmittance spectra and photoluminescence spectra. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.