Two samples of one-dimensional ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRDs) with different lengths and diameters were produced by a simple and green method. One sample synthesized via coprecipitation method at room temperature without any stabilizer or surfactant. In the other sample a linear-denderic copolymer were used to the synthesis of ZnO NRDs. Poly citric acid-grafted poly ethylene glycol (PCA-PEG-PCA) copolymer is a good candidate for using as capping and stabilizing agent for metal oxide nanostructures due to its water solubility and biocompatibility. ZnO NRDs were trapped to the polymer branches and covalently bonded to it. conjugation of copolymer with nanorods proved by FT-IR spectroscopy. The effect of capping agent on the structure, morphology and the size distribution of nanorods were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hexagonal structure of both samples of nanorods was proved by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the average diameters of nanorods were 50 nm and 25 nm and their average lengths were 100 nm and 1 mu m for raw and polymer capped nanorods, respectively. Therefore, using PCA-PEG-PCA as a capping agent causes higher length to width ratio NRDs with a hyperbranched array. Because the two ending citric acid parts are big enough to interact with two or more nanocrystals and make NRDs with dendritic structures. Optical properties of samples were identified by UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL). Both polymer capped nanorods and raw ones were used as photocatalyst for degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. Results showed that that the degradation efficiency of both dyes at the presence of both nanorods were significantly high. Using water soluble polymer capped ZnO NRDs leads to enhance in degradation effectiveness and rate of dye removal, compared to the case of using raw nanorods.