Surface properties of sprayed and electrodeposited ZnO rod layers

•Surface properties of spray and electrodeposited rods were studied and compared.•Influence of hydroxyl groups on the surface of as-deposited ZnO rods was observed.•Higher amount of hydroxyl groups on electrodeposited rods makes surface hydrophilic.•Impact of hydroxyl groups of aged samples is shaded by contamination within time.•Wettability of sprayed samples didn’t change significantly within storage time.