A low temperature in situ facile technique to enhance ultraviolet emission of zinc oxide nanorods and its mechanistic insights

► Hydrothermal growth of ZnO NRs from zinc acetate dihydrate in the presence of excess zinc. ► UV/VIS PL emission ratio of NRs grown with excess metal is enhanced to 38. ► UV/VIS PL emission ratio is enhanced seven times compared to that grown without excess zinc. ► EPR spectroscopy confirms formation of Zni defects in NRs grown with excess metal.