We study the effects of bifunctional linker on the optical properties of ZnO nanocolumn-linker-CdSe quantum dots heterostructure. The CdSe quantum dots are anchored on the surface of ZnO nanocolumns through either aliphatic linker of 3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS) or aromatic linker of p-aminophenyl trimethoxysilane (APhS). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is used to confirm the bifunctional linker bound onto CdSe quantum dots and onto the ZnO nanocolumns. The TEM study reveals a CdSe quantum dot shell of about 15 nm coated on the ZnO nanocolumns. The photoluminance (PL) spectroscopy and time-resolved PL spectroscopy of ZnO nanocolumn-linker-CdSe quantum dots reflects that the photo-induced electron transfer across the interface of ZnO and CdSe through the aromatic APhS is more efficient than the aliphatic APS. This study demonstrates that through the usage of appropriate surface linker, the charge transfer rate across the interfaces of donor/acceptor (D/A) heterostructure can be improved for potential photovoltaic cell applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.