Soft solution processing of ZnO nanoarrays by combining electrophoretic deposition and hydrothermal growth

► ZnO multipods were hydrothermally grown onto stainless steel substrates. ► ZnO thin films prepared by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) were used as seed layers. ► The use of EPD-seeded layers provided a higher number of nucleation sites. ► Morphology changed to ZnO nanorods when a highly reactive seed layer was used.