Herein, we report on structural, optical and electrochemical properties of ZnO host lattice with Al, Cu as co-doped in ZnO nanorods grown on ITO coated glass substrates by using the hydrothermal technique. The effects of dopants on modification of surface morphology, electrical, electrochemical and optical properties of co-doped nanorods thin films were characterized. The average crystallite size increases with increase in Al concentration. The absorption spectra indicate an increase in the optical band gap (E-g) with increase in Al ion doped into the Zn0.8Cu0.2O host lattice and reduced surface recombination by increasing Al doping concentration. The codoping of nanorods thin films show that a remarkable enhancement in current density (J) from 0.77 mA/cm(2) to 4.98 mA/cm(2) and a considerable 1.8 times enhancement of electrochemical response was observed compared to undoped samples. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.