A typical transformation of the α-SeNPs into metal selenide NPs, ZnSe for example, could be accomplished by adding 100 uL of an ice cold 1 M Zn(OAc)2 (aq) stock to the mixture described above. The solution changes color from red/orange to yellow/orange within 5 minutes. A similar procedure was used to synthesize metal selenide nanoparticles with all metals described within a comparable time frame.