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Zinc oxide thin films were dip-coated from an alcoholic sol of zinc acetate with different amino-additives including monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, triethylamine, and ethylenediamine. Sol–gel behavior, crystal structure, optoelectronic and morphological properties of thin films were investigated with focus on the effects of different amines and drying conditions. Investigations explicate the role of chemical and physical properties of amines such as organic chains, polarity, and boiling point as the main factors that cause distinct sol–gel behavior and film properties. It is shown that different amines in different molar ratios together with drying temperature cause dramatic impacts on sol transparency, stability, and consequently on structural, optoelectronic, and morphological properties of films. Notably, monoethanolamine and triethylamine films demonstrate a preferred orientation stimulated by …