Chalcopyrite quaternary semiconductor Cu (InxGa1-x) Se-2 nanocrystals were successfully prepared via a relatively simple electrospinning route and characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Semiconductor Cu(InxGa1-x)Se-2 nanofibers were obtained for PVB/Cu(InxGa1-x)Se-2 precursor at an applied voltage of 20 kV after annealing treatment at 400 degrees C for 6 h. The optical property of Cu (InxGa1-x) Se-2 nanocrystals was also recorded by means of UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. We also report the first electrospinning synthesis of uniform chalcopyrite crystals Cu (InxGa1-x)Se-2 nanofibers and demonstrate can be used to create simple thin film solar cells, with our first cells exhibiting an efficiency of 1.96% under AM1.5 illumination. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.