The ZnO nanowires (NWs) array/poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) hybrid prototype device was fabricated An ultraviolet (UV) light of lambda = 350 nm is used to investigate the photo-electric properties of the ZnO NWs array and hybrid structure In this way we can avoid the excitation of P3HT which can give us a real electron transport ability of ZnO NWs itself Our results demonstrated a higher and faster photo-electric response of 3 s for the hybrid structure while 9 s for the ZnO NWs array The surface states related slow photo-electric response was also observed for them The charge transfer mechanism and the influence of surface states were discussed The current work provides us profound understandings on the electron transport ability of ZnO NWs array in a working hybrid polymer solar cell which is crucial for optimizing the device performance (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved