We focus on thin films from ZnO nanorod dispersions in order to generate a high lateral order and a dense space filling structure applicable e.g. in printed optoelectronic devices. Highly stable dispersions with a solid content of up to 60 wt.% in ethanol were prepared using trioxadecanoic acid as stabilizer. With the dispersions we prepared thin films on substrates with a 3D-smectic phase in lateral dimension of cm(2) and thicknesses from below 100 nm up to 1 mu m. We show how the concentration of the initial solid content is influencing the formation of domains in our films and discuss the self-assembly process into ordered structures. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.