Widely used in the synthesis of semiconductor nanomaterials, particularly quantum dots. It serves as a selenium precursor in high-temperature organic solvents for the controlled growth of metal selenide nanoparticles such as cadmium selenide (CdSe) and lead selenide (PbSe). Its role as a coordinating reagent helps regulate particle size and shape, leading to improved optical and electronic properties. Commonly employed in optoelectronic applications including solar cells, LEDs, and biological imaging due to the tunable bandgap of the resulting nanocrystals.