Fig. 2(b) shows a TEM image of ZnO nanorod/LBZA composite after heat treatment at 500 °C for 10 min to allow complete decomposition of LBZA. It was observed that the shape and dimension of the nanorod did not change after heat treatment, i.e. no obvious sintering effect was observed, but the LBZA thin films disappeared due to decomposition and were replaced by small (10–12 nm) spherical shaped ZnO NPs.