We report on the electrosynthesis of nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films using organic molecule templates self-assembled on indium-doped tin oxide substrates in an aqueous medium. The organic molecule templates alter the morphology and microscopic defect configuration of the ZnO film having a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) study reveals that the ZnO films exhibit ultraviolet (3.36 eV and 3.22 eV), violet (3.06 eV), blue (2.88 eV), and green (2.50 eV) emissions that originate from transitions related to deep-level (zinc interstitials and vacancies) and acceptor-like (ionized zinc vacancies) defect states. A defect energy level diagram based on the PL measurement is proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.