We report on the preparation of high-quality CdSe nanocrystalline films with a strongly enhanced photoluminescence efficiency and carrier lifetime. This substantial improvement of the properties of the prepared films was accomplished by a modification of the chemical bath deposition preparation procedure. The characteristics of the prepared films were investigated in detail by measuring their optical properties, structural morphology and chemical composition. The changes induced by the modification of the preparation were interpreted in terms of a passivation of nonradiative decay channels in individual nanocrystals forming the films. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.