WS2-decorated ZnO nanorods and enhanced ultraviolet emission

•ZnO nanorods are surface-decorated with WS2.•WS2 decorating results in the tailoring of the optical properties of ZnO nanorods.•The UV emission is enhanced over 2 times for ZnO nanorods covered with a thin WS2 coating.•The enhancement in the UV emission of ZnO increases with decreasing temperature.•An enhancement above 6 times is obtained at 10 K due to WS2 decorating.