Hydrophobic ZnO self-cleaning thin films with the nanobundles and nanocarpets structures fabricated on indium tin oxides (ITO) glass substrate are reported. The water contact angle of ZnO nanobundles and nanocarpets structures (79 degrees and 67 degrees respectively) is higher than that of unmodified ZnO nanorods. A subsequent chemcial treatment with stearic acid (SA) contributed to a superhydrophobic surface with a water contact angle of 159 degrees. Its superhydrophobic property is originated from the nanobundles or nanocarpets structures and surface energy of SA/ZnO nanobundles and SA/ZnO nanocarpets composite nanostructures. Moreover, this promising ZnO nanostructured materials show an important application in self-cleaning smart coatings. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.