Well-defined branched ZnO nanorods were fabricated on various substrates by a facile wet-chemistry route using a chemical bath deposition method at relatively low temperature.The structure,morphology and properties of the as-synthesized material were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),UV-vis spectrometry and photoluminescence(PL)spectrometry.Based on these characterizations,the growth process and synthesis mechanism were discussed in detail in terms of a combination of coordination agent and alkaline medium of hexamethylenetetramine used in the solutions.The effect of incubation time,solution composition and supported substrates on morphologies and sizes of the nanorods were further investigated.Meanwhile,the optical properties of branched ZnO nanorods on Zn substrate were measured. Well-defined branched ZnO nanorods were fabricated on various substrates by a facile wet-chemistry route using a chemical bath deposition method at relatively low temperature. The structure, morphology and properties of the as-synthesized material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD ), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis spectrometry and photoluminescence (PL) spectrometry. Based on these characterizations, the growth process and synthesis mechanism were discussed in detail in terms of a combination of coordination agent and alkaline medium of hexamethylenetetramine used in the solutions. The effect of incubation time, solution composition and supported substrates on morphologies and sizes of the nanorods were further investigated. Meanwhile, the optical properties of branched ZnO nanorods on Zn substrates were measured.