•Highly c-axis oriented ZnO nanowires were grown on glass using aqueous solutions.
•The growth temperature does not exceed 95 °C in any step of the synthesis.
•The photocatalytic and wetting properties were studied upon UV irradiation.
•ZnO nanowires show superior photocatalytic activity.
•We report a reversible photo-induced transition from hydrophobic to super-hydrophilic.