A selenium ink comprising selenium stably dispersed in a liquid medium is provided, wherein the selenium ink is hydrazine free and hydrazinium free. Also provided are methods of preparing the selenium ink and of using the selenium ink to deposit selenium on a substrate for use in the manufacture of a variety of chalcogenide containing semiconductor materials, such as, thin film transistors (TFTs), light emitting diodes (LEDs); and photo responsive devices (e.g., electrophotography (e.g., laser printers and copiers), rectifiers, photographic exposure meters and photo voltaic cells) and chalcogenide containing phase change memory materials.