A new method is reported for the growth of copper selenide thin films and nanoparticles using copper acetylacetonate and trioctylphosphine selenide. Aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition experiments lead to successful deposition of tetragonal Cu2Se films. In contrast, hexadecylamine capped nanoparticles are composed of cubic CU2-xSe. The deposited materials are optically and structurally characterized. The results of this comprehensive study are described and discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.