A new method for coating glass slides with ZnO particles with an average size of 200 run is proposed in the Current article. The coating was performed under microwave radiation. Two main morphologies are found for the ZnO crystals that are deposited on glass slides. The first morphology is that of a very dense coating of ZnO hexagonal rods growing perpendicular to the glass surface. The second is the growth of ZnO flower-like particles. hi addition to coating the glass by ZnO particles, we also report on coating other polymers [poly(methyl methacrylate) plate, polycarbonate beads, Nylon 6,6 beads, and polypropylene beads) by ZnO. The morphology obtained for ZnO coated on polymers is different from that detected for coating ZnO on glass. The unorganized coating of ZnO rods on polymers has been observed. The coated glass slides were characterized by X-ray diffraction, volumetric titration, EDS, scanning electron microscope, and optical measurements (DRS and transmittance spectroscopy). (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113:1773-1780, 2009