ZnSe nanoparticles were prepared using alkylamines as ligating solvent by microwave-irradiation method. The high-crystalline ZnSe nanomaterials were obtained within 20 min through a simple process. The differences of morphologies in the effect of alkylamines and microwave variables were investigated. The results show that there is an inverse relationship between the size of nanoparticles and the length of the alkylamine. The average sizes were increased with the duration of irradiation time. Microwave-irradiation power affects the sizes and shapes of ZnSe materials because of the movement and polarization of amine molecules under the rapidly changing electric field of the microwave reactor. A further characterization of binding condition on surface of ZnSe nanoparticles by the FTIR absorbance measurements indicates the presence of alkylamine molecules on the surface of ZnSe nanoparticles. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.