A novel synthesis of CdSe nanocrystals is presented, which is based on the lower temperature reaction between TOPSe and cadmium acetate. An oleic acid/dodecylamine solvent was employed for studying the growth kinetics of CdSe nanoparticles at 200 degrees C. The concentration of growing particles remained constant following the initial nucleation step. The diameter of the CdSe nanocrystals varied from 2.0 +/- 0.1 nm up to 3.7 +/- 0.2 nm. About 90% of the available Cd was consumed during the growth. The rate constant for steady-state CdSe deposition was found to be 9.74 x 10(-10) m s(-1) at 200 degrees C. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.