A two-step method for the growth of CdSe films is described that is based on the initial chemical modification of a polycrystalline gold surface with a selenium overlayer. In the second step, this overlayer is cathodically stripped as Se 2 - in a Se(IV)-free electrolyte medium (0.1 M Na 2 SO 4 ) that is dosed with the requisite amount of Cd 2 + ions. Unlike the classical cathodic route, this new approach does not suffer from problems with excess Se admixed with CdSe. The two-step approach is validated using a combination of voltammetry, microgravimetry, and photoelectrochemical experiments.