Formation of nanoparticles of both ZnSe and US under ablation of corresponding bulk semiconductors in liquid environment (diethyleneglycol, ethanol, etc.) using radiation of a Cu vapor laser is reported. X-ray diffraction (XRD), resonance Raman scattering (RRS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirm that the nanoparticles are crystalline and have average size of ca 10-20 nm. RRS of nanoparticles are characterized by several peaks multiple to frequency of corresponding phonon (LO replicas). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.