The electrodeposition of ZnSe from alkaline selenosulfite, (SeSO3)(2-), baths of a zinc ion complex has been studied both in an experimental and a mechanistic interpretation manner. The effect of various process parameters (bath composition, substrate nature and rotation, temperature, deposition time) on the structural and morphological properties of the deposits was investigated. The structure-related results were valuated by means of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A large amount of experimental data issued by applying multiple variants of the presently described method showed that the production of a stoichiometric, though amorphous in structure, ZnSe compound is possible. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.