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The new broadband light-absorbing material is essential for effective utilization of solar energy. However, the size-controllable MoSe 2 nanospheres for the applications in broadband light-absorbing and photothermal fields, as well as the role of partially disordered features on the optical responses have not been well investigated. Here, we prepare the partially disordered MoSe 2 nanospheres by a facile solvothermal synthesis method and investigate the random impacts of the spherical diameter on optical responses. The MoSe 2 nanospheres reveal dark black color and broadband absorption from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelength without obvious absorption edge. The photothermal properties with super-continuous laser irradiation demonstrate that MoSe 2 nanospheres have high photothermal conversion efficiency of about 44.8% in water and even also reach about 30.7% in ethanol. The superior light absorption could originate from free-carriers absorption, defective state absorption and resonant absorption. The results not only pave the way of two-dimensional material for disordered photonic researches, but also widen the potential applications of MoSe 2 in saturable absorber and photothermal agent. [Display omitted] • Size-controllable MoSe 2 nanospheres are prepared by a solvothermal synthesis method. • The randomness plays a key role in optical absorption and photothermal properties. • MoSe 2 reveals high photothermal conversion efficiency of about 44.8% in water. • Photoabsorption comes from free-carrier, defective state and resonant absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]