Low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods: Effects of zinc salt concentration, various solvents and alkaline mineralizers

•We synthesized ZnO nanorods by a simple hydrothermal process at 60°C.•Effects of zinc salt concentration, solvent and alkaline mineralizer was studied.•Increasing concentration of zinc salt changed ZnO nucleation system.•NaOH yielded better results in the production of nanorods in both solvents.•Methanol performed better in the formation of nanorods using the two mineralizers.