Aqueous ZnSe quantum dots were synthesized by femtosecond laser ablation in microfluidics (FLAM). Hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI) was used to form quantum dot micelles which exhibited wavelength-tunable photoluminescence of bright visible light with the variation of pH values. The emission was attributed to the radiative deep levels introduced by the defect states. The emission peak center exhibited a blue shift as much as 25 nm to the shorter band. A possible band gap expansion mechanism for the photoluminescence wavelength tunability was discussed. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.