Approximately spherical nanoparticles of the II-VI semiconductor materials CdSe and CdTe have been produced successfully by laser ablation of the bulk material in several liquids. The non-stabilized suspensions of particles are characterized by absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The procedure is not strongly size-selective, radii of 7 +/- 3 run were found for CdSe and CdTe by transmission electron microscopy. Acetonitrile stabilizes the particles for several days up to weeks. Prolonged irradiation leads effectively to a reduction in particles size, in which particle agglomeration may play an important role. Ablation in degassed liquids does not have a significant effect on the absorption of the suspended particles. Photoluminescence of laser-ablated CdSe and CdTe particles was not observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Approximately spherical nanoparticles of the II-VI semiconductor materials CdSe and CdTe have been produced successfully by laser ablation of the bulk material in several liquids. The non-stabilized suspensions of particles are characterized by absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The procedure is not strongly size-selective, radii of 7 +/- 3 run were found for CdSe and CdTe by transmission electron microscopy. Acetonitrile stabilizes the particles for several days up to weeks. Prolonged irradiation leads effectively to a reduction in particles size, in which particle agglomeration may play an important role. Ablation in degassed liquids does not have a significant effect on the absorption of the suspended particles. Photoluminescence of laser-ablated CdSe and CdTe particles was not observed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.