Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) are encouraging constituents in a wide range of nanoscale apparatus for future applications in biochemical sensing, optical devices and solar cells. ZnO-NRs were prepared by the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition (USP) method on glass substrate at 400 degrees C. The effect of seed layer morphologies on the structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of ZnO-NRs was examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission electron microscopy. (FE-SEM) and UV-Vis spectrometry (UV-Vis). The XRD patterns were indexed as a wurtzite structure. The FE-SEM images showed that the growth of ZnO-NRs was influenced by the crystallinity and physical properties of the underlying seed layer morphologies. Electrical conductivity measurements of the ZnO samples were carried out via the four probe dc system. The conductivity increases with applied temperature. The optical spectra of the ZnO samples were measured in the UV-Vis range and the band gap (E-g) was found to be approximately 3.25 eV for the ZnO-NRs samples. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.