We demonstrated that electrodeposition can be used in CdSe thin film growth from primarily amorphous grains to self-assembled crystalline nanowires. CdSe films grown on indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates were characterized for their structural, morphological, compositional, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties. Depending on deposition time the films were found to form amorphous and crystalline. In addition, the morphology changes from spherical grains to web-like and then to nanowires as the deposition time increases from 500 to 1000 and then to 1500 s, respectively. The CdSe films composed of different structures and morphologies show different physicochemical properties. Herein, the results of this comprehensive study are described and discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.