This study presents the generation of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystalline structures in the presence of two water soluble polymers with totally different chemical structures. The crystallization process was realized by chemical and electrochemical reactions. Both methods afforded ZnO with different morphologies. The polymers employed present the capacity to be adsorbed at the crystal surface, thus preventing further growth. Contrary to the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrolidone (PNVP) has a stabilizing effect against the crystal agglomeration. Therefore, the selected materials and methods allowed the obtaining of hierarchical ZnO nanostructures in a controllable manner. The novelty of the paper consists in the electrochemical synthesis of the inorganic particles in the presence of the water soluble polymers. The obtained crystalline nanostructures have been characterized by SEM and XRD analyses. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.