Pure ZnO nanorod arrays and well-aligned ZnCoO nanorod arrays were fabricated on glass coated with ZnO films via the hydrothermal method. The structures and morphology of the ZnO arrays were studied by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, and pho-toluminescence spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectra are composed of broad ultraviolet emission and slightly visible light for pure ZnO nanorods and ZnCoO nanorods. Polyethy-lene glycol (PEG) can adjust the photoluminescence intensity; adequate PEG contributes to good crystallinity of ZnCoO. Room-temperature Photoluminescence spectra of the ZnCoO nanorod arrays show that the ultraviolet emission blueshifts markedly, and the intensity of the visible light emissions increases compared to that of pure ZnO nanorod array. The origins of the light emissions have been discussed according to the relationship of the emis-sion intensity and excitation power density of the emission peak, which indicates that the well-aligned ZnCoO nanorod arrays have better stability of exciton states than ZnO nanorod arrays.