A　series　of　graphene-ZnO　(GR-ZnO)　nanorod　nanocomposites　with　different　weight　addition　ratios　of　graphene　(GR)　have　been　prepared　via　a　facile　hydrothermal　reaction　of　graphene　oxide　(GO)　and　ZnO　nanorods.　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectra　(DRS),　field-emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(FE-SEM),　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy　(EIS),　photoluminescence　(PL)　spectra,　and　electron　spin　resonance　(ESR)　spectra　are　employed　to　determine　the　properties　of　the　samples.　It　is　found　that　GR-ZnO　nanorod　nanocomposites　with　a　proper　addition　amount　of　GR　exhibit　higher　photocatalytic　activity　and　improved　anti-photocorrosion　than　ZnO　nanorods　toward　liquid-phase　degradation　of　dye　under　ultraviolet　(UV)　light　irradiation.　The　improved　photoactivity　and　anti-photocorrosion　of　GR-ZnO　nanorods　can　be　ascribed　to　the　integrative　synergistic　effect　of　enhanced　adsorption　capacity,　the　prolonged　lifetime　of　photogenerated　electron-hole　pairs　and　effective　interfacial　hybridization　between　GR　and　ZnO　nanorods.　This　study　also　shows　that　graphene　sheets　act　as　electronic　conductive　channels　to　efficiently　separate　the　photogenerated　charge　carriers　from　ZnO　nanorods.　It　is　hoped　that　our　current　work　could　promote　increasing　interest　in　designing　the　nanocomposites　of　one-dimensional　(1D)　semiconductor　and　two-dimensional　(2D)　graphene　for　different　photocatalytic　applications.　©　2013　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.