In this paper, Se nanostructures have been successfully synthesized via a rapid wet chemical reduction route in the presence of potassium sorbate, a food surfactant. employing SeO2 and KBH4 as the starting reactants at 50 degrees C for 30 min. Some factors influencing the morphology of Se nanostructures such as the amounts and sorts of surfactants, the reaction temperature and the reaction time were investigated. The as-obtained Se nanostructures were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR/TEM). A possible formation process of Se nanostructures was discussed based on the experimental results. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.