A peptide with an affinity for ZnO, selected by a phage-display system, preferentially immobilizes ZnO particles on a gold-coated polypropylene plate and assists in the homogeneous assembly of 10 nm diameter ZnO nanoparticles into unique flower-like morphologies (see Figure). The peptide is selective in binding ZnO, but not ZnS or Eu2O3. This combinatorial library approach may yield new peptides used to create new structures via biomineralization.