The unique two‐dimensional structure and surface chemistry of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) along with its high electrical conductivity can be exploited to modify the electrochemical properties of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). ZnO‐rGO nanohybrids can be engineered in a simple new two‐step synthesis, which is both fast and energy‐efficient. The resulting hybrid materials show excellent electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activity. The structure and composition of the as‐prepared bare ZnO nanorods (NRs) and the ZnO‐rGO hybrids have been extensively characterised and the optical properties subsequently studied by UV‐Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy (including decay life time measurements). The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye is enhanced using the ZnO‐rGO hybrids as compared to bare ZnO NRs. Further, potentiometry comparing ZnO and ZnO‐rGO electrodes reveals a featureless capacitive background for an Ar‐saturated solution whereas for an O 2 ‐saturated solution a well‐defined redox peak was observed using both electrodes. The change in reduction potential and significant increase in current density demonstrates that the hybrid core‐shell NRs possess remarkable electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as compared to NRs of ZnO alone
