A simple method for the preparation of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and hexadecylamine (HDA) capped CdTe particles have been employed in this study. The method involves the reduction of tellurium in water followed by the addition of the cadmium salt and thermolysis in TOPO and HDA. The influence of the reduction time (2, 4 and 6 h) of tellurium on the optical properties was investigated. The particles were characterised by electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.