Lead selenide (PbSe) PbSe
PbSe · CAS 12069-00-0 · cubic, Fm3m (No. 225)
Lead selenide (PbSe) is a grey, cubic compound of lead and selenium with a density of 8.1 g/cm3 at 20 °C, printed in its supplier safety data sheet.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Pb 72.4%Lead
- Se 27.6%Selenium
Best for
Research-grade mid-infrared photodetector films and thermal-imaging detectors that need a detection range of 1.5 to 5.2 μm (Wikipedia)
Weakest at
Toxicity: the supplier safety data sheet classes lead selenide as fatal if swallowed or inhaled (H300+H330) and as a reproductive toxin (H360)
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Classed as fatal if swallowed or inhaled
- If it fails High. Release of hydrogen selenide gas
- Corrosion Moderate. Heating PbSe in air or oxygen forms oxidised products, which the authors detected by Raman spectroscopy at 400 °C.
Quick facts: PbSe
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.1 g/cm³ | 3 sourced values across conditions |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.74 W m−1 K−1 | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 1,065 to 1,088 °C | 3 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Lead selenide (PbSe)?
Lead selenide (PbSe) has a density of 8.1 g/cm³. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the thermal conductivity of Lead selenide (PbSe)?
Lead selenide (PbSe) has a thermal conductivity of 0.74 W m−1 K−1. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Lead selenide (PbSe)?
Lead selenide (PbSe) has a melting point of 1,065 to 1,088 °C. The range covers 3 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Lead selenide (PbSe) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Mid-infrared photodetector film (research); Infrared detectors for thermal imaging; Lead selenide nanocrystals in nanocrystal solar cells.
Why it exists
Lead selenide (PbSe) is a narrow-gap semiconductor compound. It has a band gap of 0.27 eV at room temperature per a 2022 Nanomaterials paper, which places its response in the mid-infrared. Wikipedia says it is used to manufacture infrared detectors for thermal imaging and detects infrared radiation of wavelengths from 1.5 to 5.2 μm. Its main trade-off is toxicity: the supplier safety data sheet classes it as fatal if swallowed or inhaled. Its melting point is printed differently in three sources, 1065 °C, 1078 °C and 1088 °C, and all three are kept.
Where it's used
Mid-infrared photodetectors
A 2022 study of iodine-sensitized PbSe films reports a responsivity of 0.237 A/W at 2250 nm. The same device detects over 2250 nm to 5000 nm, and the paper does not print the test temperature.
Infrared detectors for thermal imaging
Wikipedia says lead selenide is used to manufacture infrared detectors for thermal imaging and opened the market for uncooled MWIR imaging cameras.
Nanocrystal solar cells
Wikipedia names lead selenide nanocrystals, used as quantum dots, as an example in nanocrystal solar cells. It gives no efficiency figure.
Recipe
PbSe
Lead selenide is PbSe: one lead atom bonded to one selenium atom, forming a cubic halite (rock-salt) lattice. The sources read here do not describe a synthesis route, so no process is given.
| Ingredient | Atoms per unit | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Pb | 1 | 72.4% | The metal cation of the rock-salt lattice. Its heavy atomic mass dominates the compound's 8.1 g/cm3 density. |
| Selenium Se | 1 | 27.6% | The anion of the lattice. Selenium is a chalcogen, the same group as sulphur and tellurium. |
Weight shares are calculated from standard atomic weights.
What it can do
Detect mid-infrared radiation
an iodine-sensitized film responds at 2250 nm with a responsivity of 0.237 A/W, per the 2022 Nanomaterials paper.
Act as a thermoelectric material
Wikipedia calls lead selenide a thermoelectric material, and the abstract read here gives a Seebeck coefficient of ~ 198 μV K−1 and a thermal conductivity of 0.74 W m−1 K−1, both at 300 K.
Band gap
Respond to mid-infrared light because of its narrow band gap of 0.27 eV at room temperature, per the 2022 Nanomaterials paper.
How it compares
The three melting points printed for lead selenide (1065 °C in the safety data sheet, 1078 °C in Wikipedia and 1088 °C in ChemBK) differ by more than the rounding in any one source, so the most reliable figure is not settled by these sources. The density is printed as 8.1 g/cm3 by the safety data sheet and as 8.10 g/cm3 by the supplier's product page. Both agree on the same value to the precision printed.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details.
| Measurement | PbSe |
|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |
| Melting point (safety data sheet) | 1065 °C4 |
| Melting point (Wikipedia) | 1078 °C5 |
| Melting point (ChemBK) | 1088 °C6 |
| Thermal conductivity at 300 K | 0.74 W m−1 K−114 |
| Thermal conductivity at 500 K | 1.07 W m−1 K−115 |
| Physical and electrical | |
| Density (supplier safety data sheet) | 8.1 g/cm³1 |
| Density (product page) | 8.1 g/cm³2 |
| Density (ChemBK) | 8.1 g/mL3 |
| Other measurements | |
| Molar mass | 286.2 g/mol7 |
| Band gap at room temperature | 0.27 eV8 |
| Band gap with spin-orbit coupling (abstract) | 0.16 eV9 |
| Band gap without spin-orbit coupling (abstract) | 0.27 eV10 |
| Lattice constant, cubic cell | 6.12 Angstroms11 |
| Seebeck coefficient at 300 KPrinted in the abstract as ~ 198 μV K−1 at 300 K | 198 μV K−112 |
| Seebeck coefficient at 500 KPrinted in the abstract as 266 μV K−1 at 500 K | 266 μV K−113 |
| Infrared detection range (Wikipedia) | 1.5 to 5.2 μm16 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Mid-infrared photodetector research. A 2022 study measured a responsivity of 0.237 A/W at 2250 nm for an iodine-sensitized film.
- Thermal-imaging detector manufacture. Wikipedia says lead selenide is used for these detectors and can detect 1.5 to 5.2 μm.
Watch out for
- Toxicity. The safety data sheet classes it as fatal if swallowed or inhaled, with H300+H330.
- Conflicting melting points. The sources give 1065 °C, 1078 °C and 1088 °C.
- No ageing or humidity data. No long-term air or humidity ageing test was found.
Lead selenide is a useful narrow-gap infrared material, but the toxicity is significant, and the sources read here give no ageing, space or flight data.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Cell-level benchmarks
Values for finished cells. These vary by manufacturer, so read the conditions in the notes.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density (supplier safety data sheet) | Printed as Density at 20 °C (68 °F) in Section 9 of the Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet (revised 19/01/2023) | temperature 20 °C (68 °F) | — |
| 2 | Density (product page) | Printed as 8.10g/cm3 in the product summary table and Specification section of the Stanford Advanced Materials product page | temperature not stated on the page | — |
| 3 | Density (ChemBK) | Printed as 8.1 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.) in the Physico-chemical Properties section of ChemBK | temperature 25 °Cnote printed as lit. (literature value) | — |
| 4 | Melting point (safety data sheet) | Printed in Section 9 of the safety data sheet as Melting point/Melting range | basis printed as 1065 °C (1949 °F); no test method given | — |
| 5 | Melting point (Wikipedia) | Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Properties section, as 1,078 °C | basis infobox value, printed as 1,078 °C (1,972 °F; 1,351 K) | Printed with a thousands comma. The infobox carries a verification marker, and it disagrees with the 1065 °C safety data sheet value. |
| 6 | Melting point (ChemBK) | Printed in the Physico-chemical Properties section of ChemBK as Melting Point | basis printed as 1088°C with no test condition | ChemBK prints the molecular formula as HPbSe, which is an error. The melting point is kept as printed and differs from the other two sources. |
| 7 | Molar mass | Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Properties section, as 286.16 g/mol; follows from the formula | basis as printed in the infobox | — |
| 8 | Band gap at room temperature | Printed in Section 1 (Introduction) as a narrow bandgap of 0.27 eV at room temperature | temperature room temperature, as printed | — |
| 9 | Band gap with spin-orbit coupling (abstract) | Printed in the abstract of a combined experimental and computational study on PbSe transport | basis considering spin-orbit coupling, as printed in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 10 | Band gap without spin-orbit coupling (abstract) | Printed in the abstract of the same study as 0.27 eV without SOC | basis without spin-orbit coupling, as printed in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 11 | Lattice constant, cubic cell | Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Structure section, as 6.12 Angstroms | structure cubic halite (rock-salt), space group Fm3m, as printed | — |
| 12 | Seebeck coefficient at 300 K | — | temperature 300 Kdoping not stated in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 13 | Seebeck coefficient at 500 K | — | temperature 500 Kdoping not stated in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 14 | Thermal conductivity at 300 K | Printed in the abstract as 0.74 (1.07) W m−1 K−1 at 300 (500) K | temperature 300 Kdoping not stated in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 15 | Thermal conductivity at 500 K | Printed in the abstract as 0.74 (1.07) W m−1 K−1 at 300 (500) K | temperature 500 Kdoping not stated in the abstract | The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed. |
| 16 | Infrared detection range (Wikipedia) | Printed in the Wikipedia Infrared detection section as it can detect IR radiation of wavelengths from 1.5 to 5.2 μm | basis wavelengths as printed; detector type and temperature not stated | — |
| 17 | Responsivity at 2250 nm (iodine-sensitized film) | Printed in Section 3.2 as responsive at 2250 nm with a responsivity of 0.237 A/W | wavelength 2250 nmbias not printed for this sentencedevice iodine-sensitized PbSe film made by chemical bath deposition | — |
| 18 | Responsivity at 808 nm (iodine-sensitized film) | Printed in the Abstract as responsiveness of 30.27 A/W at 808 nm, at 1 V and 233 µW/cm² | wavelength 808 nmbias 1 Vincident power density 233 µW/cm² | — |
| 19 | Detection range of the iodine-sensitized photodetector | Printed in the Introduction as a device that detects over 2250 nm to 5000 nm | device PbSe film photodetector with iodine sensitizationtemperature not printed | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Water | low | Lead selenide is insoluble in water.1 |
| Oxygen during heat treatment of PbSe films | moderate | Heating PbSe in air or oxygen forms oxidised products, which the authors detected by Raman spectroscopy at 400 °C.2 |
| Air and humidity at room temperature | not rated | No ageing or long-term air or humidity test for PbSe was found in the sources read.3 |
| Acid, when heated | moderate | Heating PbSe while it is exposed to acid releases highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas.4 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water | ChemBK and the safety data sheet both describe it as insoluble in water. Neither gives a solubility figure. | temperature not stated |
| 2 | Oxygen during heat treatment of PbSe films | After annealing at 400 °C, the Raman spectrum of the PbSe layer kept the PbSe bands near 100 cm−1, 125 cm−1 and 230 cm−1 and showed one more peak at 790 cm−1. The authors presume the 790 cm−1 peak comes from the PbSeO4 phase, not from PbSe. | temperature 400 °C annealingmethod Raman spectroscopy, 532 nm excitation, as printed in the paper |
| 3 | Air and humidity at room temperature | The 2022 iodine-sensitization study reports no ageing, long-term air-exposure or stability test. It describes PbSe as having excellent chemical stability, but it gives no test result for that claim. | basis no ageing data reported |
| 4 | Acid, when heated | ChemBK's flammability entry states that when heated and exposed to acid, lead selenide gives off highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas. The safety data sheet lists hydrogen selenide among its hazardous decomposition products. | basis heated and exposed to acid, as printed; acid strength not stated |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The supplier safety data sheet classes lead selenide as Acute Tox. 2 with H300+H330, Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled, and adds H360 and H373.
- The powder
- The safety data sheet prints H300+H330 Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled, H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child, and H373. PubChem's aggregate record lists H301 at 100% and H331 at 90.7% of reports.
- Dust and fume
- The safety data sheet says not to breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray (P260), and calls for respiratory protection when ventilation is inadequate (P284).
- In a fire
- Toxic metal compounds and hydrogen selenide can be released. The safety data sheet calls for a self-contained respirator and a special powder for metal fires, and says do not use water.
If heated with acid
The hazard here is a gas, not a cell failure. These statements come from the chemical database and the safety data sheet, not from field incidents.
- Hydrogen selenide
- ChemBK states that when heated and exposed to acid, lead selenide gives off highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas.
- Hazard disagreement
- The safety data sheet and Wikipedia list different hazard codes, and PubChem lists more of them. All three lists are kept in the record.
Handling and storage
- Storage
- Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place, as the safety data sheet requires.
- Exposure
- The safety data sheet lists a PEL (USA) long-term value of 0.2 mg/m3 as Se for lead(II) selenide.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Release of hydrogen selenide gashigh severity | Heating the solid while it is exposed to acid, or a fire involving the materialHighly toxic hydrogen selenide gas is released, and the safety data sheet lists toxic metal compounds among the decomposition products. |
Side effects on surrounding parts
| Affects | Effect |
|---|---|
| People near a fire or spill | In a fire the material can release toxic metal compounds and hydrogen selenide, so fire crews need a self-contained respirator (safety data sheet Section 5). |
Handling and storage
- Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place, as the safety data sheet requires.
- Precautionary statement P260 says do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray; P284 calls for respiratory protection when ventilation is inadequate.
- Section 8 lists a PEL (USA) long-term value of 0.2 mg/m3 as Se for lead(II) selenide (CAS 12069-00-0).
Mitigations
- For fire, use a special powder for metal fires and do not use water (safety data sheet Section 5).
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Lead
- Top producers (2025)
- China 42.2%, Australia 10.7%, Peru 6.4%, Russia 5.8%, Mexico 4.4%
- Critical mineral lists
- US: listed
- Recycling
- USGS: an estimated 1 million tons of secondary lead was produced in 2025, equivalent to 70% of apparent domestic consumption, nearly all recovered from old scrap, mostly lead-acid batteries.
- Substitutes
- USGS names substitutes for lead in cable covering, cans, solder for potable water and wheel weights. It gives no substitute for lead in PbSe.
Selenium
- Top producers (2025)
- China 53%, Japan 16.8%, Russia 8.4%
- Recycling
- USGS: recycling of selenium is insignificant. Most scrap from electronic materials was exported for recovery of contained selenium.
- Substitutes
- USGS: amorphous silicon and cadmium telluride are the principal competitors with CIGS in thin-film photovoltaic cells. No substitute is named for PbSe.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: lead-selenide
spore_version: 0.2
family: lead-chalcogenides
name: Lead selenide (PbSe)
abbreviation: PbSe
role: Narrow-gap semiconductor for infrared photodetectors, thermoelectric research and nanocrystal solar cells
category: semiconductors
type: gaas
summary: |
Lead selenide (PbSe) is a grey, cubic compound of lead and selenium with a density of 8.1 g/cm3 at 20 °C, printed in its supplier safety data sheet. It is a narrow-gap semiconductor with a band gap of 0.27 eV at room temperature, per a 2022 Nanomaterials paper, and Wikipedia says it detects infrared radiation from 1.5 to 5.2 μm. Its supplier safety data sheet classes it as fatal if swallowed or inhaled (H300+H330), so the material is used in research and in infrared detector manufacture under strict handling.
best_for: Research-grade mid-infrared photodetector films and thermal-imaging detectors that need a detection range of 1.5 to 5.2 μm (Wikipedia)
weakest_at: 'Toxicity: the supplier safety data sheet classes lead selenide as fatal if swallowed or inhaled (H300+H330) and as a reproductive toxin (H360)'
identity:
formula: PbSe
cas: 12069-00-0
crystal_system: cubic, halite (rock-salt) structure, cF8 (Wikipedia)
space_group: Fm3m (No. 225)
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infobox, Structure (Halite (cubic), cF8; Fm3m, No. 225) and Identifiers (CAS 12069-00-0)
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- optics-and-cameras
- electronics-and-chips
- solar-arrays
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density (supplier safety data sheet)
value: 8.1
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 20 °C (68 °F)
method: Printed as Density at 20 °C (68 °F) in Section 9 of the Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet (revised 19/01/2023)
status: ground
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 9, Density at 20 °C row
- benchmark: density
label: Density (product page)
value: 8.1
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not stated on the page
method: Printed as 8.10g/cm3 in the product summary table and Specification section of the Stanford Advanced Materials product page
status: ground
source: samaterials-pbse
where: Product summary table; Specification section
- benchmark: density
label: Density (ChemBK)
value: 8.1
unit: g/mL
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 25 °C
note: printed as lit. (literature value)
method: Printed as 8.1 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.) in the Physico-chemical Properties section of ChemBK
status: ground
source: chembk-pbse
where: Physico-chemical Properties, Density row
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point (safety data sheet)
value: 1065
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: printed as 1065 °C (1949 °F); no test method given
method: Printed in Section 9 of the safety data sheet as Melting point/Melting range
status: ground
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 9, Melting point/Melting range row
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point (Wikipedia)
value: 1078
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: infobox value, printed as 1,078 °C (1,972 °F; 1,351 K)
method: Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Properties section, as 1,078 °C
status: ground
note: Printed with a thousands comma. The infobox carries a verification marker, and it disagrees with the 1065 °C safety data sheet value.
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infobox, Properties (Melting point)
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Melting point (ChemBK)
value: 1088
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
basis: printed as 1088°C with no test condition
method: Printed in the Physico-chemical Properties section of ChemBK as Melting Point
status: ground
note: ChemBK prints the molecular formula as HPbSe, which is an error. The melting point is kept as printed and differs from the other two sources.
source: chembk-pbse
where: Physico-chemical Properties, Melting Point row
- benchmark: molar_mass
label: Molar mass
value: 286.16
unit: g/mol
scope: material
conditions:
basis: as printed in the infobox
method: Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Properties section, as 286.16 g/mol; follows from the formula
status: calculated
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infobox, Properties (Molar mass)
- benchmark: band_gap
label: Band gap at room temperature
value: 0.27
unit: eV
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: room temperature, as printed
method: Printed in Section 1 (Introduction) as a narrow bandgap of 0.27 eV at room temperature
status: ground
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Section 1 (Introduction)
- benchmark: band_gap
label: Band gap with spin-orbit coupling (abstract)
value: 0.16
unit: eV
scope: material
conditions:
basis: considering spin-orbit coupling, as printed in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract of a combined experimental and computational study on PbSe transport
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: band_gap
label: Band gap without spin-orbit coupling (abstract)
value: 0.27
unit: eV
scope: material
conditions:
basis: without spin-orbit coupling, as printed in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract of the same study as 0.27 eV without SOC
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: lattice_constant
label: Lattice constant, cubic cell
value: 6.12
unit: Angstroms
scope: material
conditions:
structure: cubic halite (rock-salt), space group Fm3m, as printed
method: Printed in the Wikipedia infobox, Structure section, as 6.12 Angstroms
status: ground
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infobox, Structure (Lattice constant)
- benchmark: responsivity
label: Responsivity at 2250 nm (iodine-sensitized film)
value: 0.237
unit: A/W
scope: cell
conditions:
wavelength: 2250 nm
bias: not printed for this sentence
device: iodine-sensitized PbSe film made by chemical bath deposition
method: Printed in Section 3.2 as responsive at 2250 nm with a responsivity of 0.237 A/W
status: ground
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Section 3.2
- benchmark: responsivity
label: Responsivity at 808 nm (iodine-sensitized film)
value: 30.27
unit: A/W
scope: cell
conditions:
wavelength: 808 nm
bias: 1 V
incident_power_density: 233 µW/cm²
method: Printed in the Abstract as responsiveness of 30.27 A/W at 808 nm, at 1 V and 233 µW/cm²
status: ground
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Abstract
- benchmark: detection_range
label: Detection range of the iodine-sensitized photodetector
value: 2250
value_high: 5000
bound: range
unit: nm
scope: cell
conditions:
device: PbSe film photodetector with iodine sensitization
temperature: not printed
method: Printed in the Introduction as a device that detects over 2250 nm to 5000 nm
status: ground
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Introduction
- benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
label: Seebeck coefficient at 300 K
value: 198
unit: μV K−1
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K
doping: not stated in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract as ~ 198 μV K−1 at 300 K
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: seebeck_coefficient
label: Seebeck coefficient at 500 K
value: 266
unit: μV K−1
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 500 K
doping: not stated in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract as 266 μV K−1 at 500 K
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity at 300 K
value: 0.74
unit: W m−1 K−1
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 300 K
doping: not stated in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract as 0.74 (1.07) W m−1 K−1 at 300 (500) K
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity at 500 K
value: 1.07
unit: W m−1 K−1
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 500 K
doping: not stated in the abstract
method: Printed in the abstract as 0.74 (1.07) W m−1 K−1 at 300 (500) K
status: ground
note: The abstract does not say whether this value is measured or computed.
source: arxiv-pbse-transport
where: Abstract
- benchmark: detection_range
label: Infrared detection range (Wikipedia)
value: 1.5
value_high: 5.2
bound: range
unit: μm
scope: material
conditions:
basis: wavelengths as printed; detector type and temperature not stated
method: Printed in the Wikipedia Infrared detection section as it can detect IR radiation of wavelengths from 1.5 to 5.2 μm
status: ground
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infrared detection section
corrosion:
- environment: Water
headline: Lead selenide is insoluble in water.
effect: ChemBK and the safety data sheet both describe it as insoluble in water. Neither gives a solubility figure.
rating: low
conditions:
temperature: not stated
source: chembk-pbse
where: Physico-chemical Properties, Water Solubility row
- environment: Oxygen during heat treatment of PbSe films
headline: Heating PbSe in air or oxygen forms oxidised products, which the authors detected by Raman spectroscopy at 400 °C.
effect: After annealing at 400 °C, the Raman spectrum of the PbSe layer kept the PbSe bands near 100 cm−1, 125 cm−1 and 230 cm−1 and showed one more peak at 790 cm−1. The authors presume the 790 cm−1 peak comes from the PbSeO4 phase, not from PbSe.
rating: moderate
conditions:
temperature: 400 °C annealing
method: Raman spectroscopy, 532 nm excitation, as printed in the paper
source: pmc-pbse-oxidation
where: Section 3.3, Figure 6b
- environment: Air and humidity at room temperature
headline: No ageing or long-term air or humidity test for PbSe was found in the sources read.
effect: The 2022 iodine-sensitization study reports no ageing, long-term air-exposure or stability test. It describes PbSe as having excellent chemical stability, but it gives no test result for that claim.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: no ageing data reported
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Introduction and Section 3.2
- environment: Acid, when heated
headline: Heating PbSe while it is exposed to acid releases highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas.
effect: ChemBK's flammability entry states that when heated and exposed to acid, lead selenide gives off highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas. The safety data sheet lists hydrogen selenide among its hazardous decomposition products.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: heated and exposed to acid, as printed; acid strength not stated
source: chembk-pbse
where: Flammability Hazard Characteristics row
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'Supplier safety data sheet, classification under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 with signal word Danger: H300+H330 Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled; H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child; H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.'
ghs:
- H300
- H330
- H360
- H373
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 2, Classification and Label elements
- text: 'PubChem GHS aggregate for lead selenide (CID 61550): H301 (100%) Toxic if swallowed; H331 (90.7%) Toxic if inhaled; H360 (97.7%) May damage fertility or the unborn child; H373 (100%) May cause damage to organs; H400 (100%) and H410 (100%) Very toxic to aquatic life.'
ghs:
- H301
- H302
- H331
- H332
- H360
- H373
- H400
- H410
source: pubchem-pbse
where: GHS Classification section, GHS Hazard Statements
- text: 'Wikipedia infobox, Hazards: H301, H302, H331, H332, H360, H373 and H410 with signal word Danger. Its hazard list differs from the safety data sheet, so both lists are kept.'
ghs:
- H301
- H302
- H331
- H332
- H360
- H373
- H410
source: wiki-pbse
where: Infobox, Hazards
failure_risks:
- mode: Release of hydrogen selenide gas
trigger: Heating the solid while it is exposed to acid, or a fire involving the material
consequence: Highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas is released, and the safety data sheet lists toxic metal compounds among the decomposition products.
severity: high
source: chembk-pbse
where: Flammability Hazard Characteristics row; safety data sheet Section 10, Hazardous decomposition products
side_effects:
- text: In a fire the material can release toxic metal compounds and hydrogen selenide, so fire crews need a self-contained respirator (safety data sheet Section 5).
affects: People near a fire or spill
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 5, Special hazards and Advice for firefighters; Section 10
handling:
- text: Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place, as the safety data sheet requires.
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 7, Handling and Storage
- text: Precautionary statement P260 says do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray; P284 calls for respiratory protection when ventilation is inadequate.
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 2, Precautionary statements
- text: Section 8 lists a PEL (USA) long-term value of 0.2 mg/m3 as Se for lead(II) selenide (CAS 12069-00-0).
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 8, Exposure limits
mitigations:
- text: For fire, use a special powder for metal fires and do not use water (safety data sheet Section 5).
source: sds-pbse
where: Section 5, Suitable extinguishing agents
uses:
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Mid-infrared photodetector film (research)
example: An iodine-sensitized PbSe film detects over 2250 nm to 5000 nm and gives a responsivity of 0.237 A/W at 2250 nm (2022 Nanomaterials study).
source: pmc-pbse-photodetector
where: Abstract; Introduction; Section 3.2
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Infrared detectors for thermal imaging
example: Wikipedia says lead selenide is used to manufacture infrared detectors for thermal imaging, and that it can detect infrared radiation of wavelengths from 1.5 to 5.2 μm.
source: wiki-pbse
where: Lead section (intro); Infrared detection section
- application: solar-arrays
device: Lead selenide nanocrystals in nanocrystal solar cells
example: Wikipedia names lead selenide nanocrystals, used as quantum dots, as an example in nanocrystal solar cells.
source: wiki-pbse
where: PbSe Quantum dots based photodetectors section
supply:
- subject: Lead
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 42.2
year: 2025
- country: Australia
share_percent: 10.7
year: 2025
- country: Peru
share_percent: 6.4
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.8
year: 2025
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 4.4
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: USGS 2025 Final List of Critical Minerals (lead added in 2025)
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: an estimated 1 million tons of secondary lead was produced in 2025, equivalent to 70% of apparent domestic consumption, nearly all recovered from old scrap, mostly lead-acid batteries.'
substitutes:
- USGS names substitutes for lead in cable covering, cans, solder for potable water and wheel weights. It gives no substitute for lead in PbSe.
source: usgs-lead
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the world total (rounded) of 4,500 thousand t; the China and Australia values are printed in the table as 1,900 and 480); Recycling; Substitutes; Events, Trends and Issues (critical list)
- subject: Selenium
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 53
year: 2025
- country: Japan
share_percent: 16.8
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 8.4
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: recycling of selenium is insignificant. Most scrap from electronic materials was exported for recovery of contained selenium.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: amorphous silicon and cadmium telluride are the principal competitors with CIGS in thin-film photovoltaic cells. No substitute is named for PbSe.'
source: usgs-selenium
where: Events, Trends and Issues (China 53% of estimated global production); World Refinery Production table, 2025 (Japan 640 and Russia 320 against a world total (rounded) of 3,800 metric tons; shares calculated by Space Mushroom); Recycling; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: 'Lead Selenide: Safety Data Sheet (Stanford Advanced Materials, CAS 12069-00-0), revised 19/01/2023'
type: sds
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1697120005-849-lead-selenide-evaporation-materials-sds.pdf
year: 2023
- title: 'Lead selenide powder, product PB6287: product summary and specifications (Stanford Advanced Materials)'
type: datasheet
url: https://www.samaterials.com/pb6287-lead-selenide-powder-pbse.html
- title: 'PubChem: Lead selenide (CID 61550), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/61550/JSON
year: 2025
- title: Promoted Mid-Infrared Photodetection of PbSe Film by Iodine Sensitization Based on Chemical Bath Deposition (open access)
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9105836/
year: 2022
- title: Thermodynamic Analysis and Experimental Study on the Oxidation of PbX (X = S, Se) Nanostructured Layers (open access)
type: paper
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9412640/
year: 2022
- title: 'Understanding the transport behaviour of PbSe: A combined experimental and computational study (arXiv abstract)'
type: paper
url: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.03786
year: 2024
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lead'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-lead.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Selenium'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-selenium.pdf
year: 2026
gaps:
- No refractive index, transmission range, dielectric constant or hardness value for PbSe was found in the sources read.
- 'The melting point differs by source: 1065 °C (safety data sheet), 1078 °C (Wikipedia) and 1088 °C (ChemBK). All three are kept with their sources and none is preferred.'
- No UNS, EN, DIN, JIS or trade-name designation for lead selenide was printed in any source read. The supplier catalogue number PB6287 is not a designation and is not listed.
- No figure of merit (zT) for PbSe was printed in the abstract read, so no thermoelectric zT is recorded.
- Detectivity (D*) is not printed in the 2022 photodetector paper, and the operating temperature of that device is not printed either.
- No space, vacuum, radiation, atomic-oxygen, thermal-cycling or flight result for PbSe was found in any source read.
- No quantitative solubility value was found; ChemBK and the safety data sheet say only insoluble in water.
- The hazard statements disagree between the safety data sheet (H300+H330, H360, H373), PubChem (H301, H302, H331, H332, H360, H373, H400, H410) and Wikipedia (H301, H302, H331, H332, H360, H373, H410). All three lists are kept.
- The arXiv abstract gives Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity values but does not say whether they are measured or computed, and it does not state the doping level.
- Lead's status on the EU critical raw materials list and selenium's status on the USGS critical minerals list were not checked in this run.
- No long-term air or humidity ageing data for PbSe was found.
- Wikipedia gives PbSe a thermoelectric role and a 1.5 to 5.2 μm detection range, but gives no device or test condition for either.
- 'Property names not in spores/property-canon.yaml and used as snake_case here: band_gap, molar_mass, lattice_constant, responsivity, detection_range, seebeck_coefficient. Canonical names were used for density, melting_point and thermal_conductivity.'
sources:
samaterials-pbse:
title: Lead selenide powder (PB6287) product page, Stanford Advanced Materials
id: Catalog No. PB6287; CAS 12069-00-0
url: https://www.samaterials.com/pb6287-lead-selenide-powder-pbse.html
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: supplier page, cited not reproduced
chembk-pbse:
title: Lead selenide, ChemBK chemical database entry
id: CAS 12069-00-0; EINECS 235-109-4
url: https://www.chembk.com/en/chem/Lead%20selenide
year: 2026
kind: web
license: cited, not reproduced
wiki-pbse:
title: Lead(II) selenide, Wikipedia article (infobox, structure, uses, hazards)
id: Wikipedia, read 2026-11-01
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_selenide
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikipedia)
pubchem-pbse:
title: PubChem compound record, Lead selenide (CID 61550), GHS Classification and Molecular Formula sections
id: CID 61550; CAS 12069-00-0
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/61550/JSON
year: 2025
kind: database
license: public domain (NCBI)
sds-pbse:
title: 'Safety Data Sheet: Lead Selenide (Stanford Advanced Materials, CAS 12069-00-0)'
id: revised 19/01/2023; accessed 25/08/2023
url: https://samaterials.com/tds/1697120005-849-lead-selenide-evaporation-materials-sds.pdf
year: 2023
kind: datasheet
license: supplier document, linked not reproduced
pmc-pbse-photodetector:
title: Promoted Mid-Infrared Photodetection of PbSe Film by Iodine Sensitization Based on Chemical Bath Deposition
id: Nanomaterials (Basel) 2022, 12(9), 1391; PMC9105836
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9105836/
year: 2022
kind: paper
license: open access (PubMed Central)
pmc-pbse-oxidation:
title: Thermodynamic Analysis and Experimental Study on the Oxidation of PbX (X = S, Se) Nanostructured Layers
id: Micromachines, 2022 Jul 29; PMC9412640
url: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9412640/
year: 2022
kind: paper
license: open access (PubMed Central)
arxiv-pbse-transport:
title: 'Understanding the transport behaviour of PbSe: A combined experimental and computational study (arXiv abstract)'
id: arXiv:2408.03786 (v2)
url: https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.03786
year: 2024
kind: paper
license: arXiv (abstract cited)
nist-pb:
title: 'NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions for All Elements: lead (Pb, atomic number 82)'
id: NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, Standard Atomic Weight
url: https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=Pb&all=all
year: 2026
kind: database
license: public domain (NIST)
nist-se:
title: 'NIST Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions for All Elements: selenium (Se, atomic number 34)'
id: NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, Standard Atomic Weight
url: https://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/Compositions/stand_alone.pl?ele=Se&all=all
year: 2026
kind: database
license: public domain (NIST)
usgs-lead:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Lead'
id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-lead.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-selenium:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Selenium'
id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-selenium.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 18
unreachable: 1
caveats: 2
note: Read by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01. PubChem HTML page blocked by a browser check, so the PubChem JSON record was read instead. The arXiv PDF URL returned 404, so the arXiv abstract page was read instead. The ACAL detector page was not opened.
story:
recipe:
line: 'Lead selenide is PbSe: one lead atom bonded to one selenium atom, forming a cubic halite (rock-salt) lattice. The sources read here do not describe a synthesis route, so no process is given.'
parts:
- name: Lead
symbol: Pb
atoms: 1
atomic_weight: 207.2
role: The metal cation of the rock-salt lattice. Its heavy atomic mass dominates the compound's 8.1 g/cm3 density.
- name: Selenium
symbol: Se
atoms: 1
atomic_weight: 78.971
role: The anion of the lattice. Selenium is a chalcogen, the same group as sulphur and tellurium.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Classed as fatal if swallowed or inhaled
lead: The supplier safety data sheet classes lead selenide as Acute Tox. 2 with H300+H330, Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled, and adds H360 and H373.
points:
- label: The powder
line: The safety data sheet prints H300+H330 Fatal if swallowed or if inhaled, H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child, and H373. PubChem's aggregate record lists H301 at 100% and H331 at 90.7% of reports.
- label: Dust and fume
line: The safety data sheet says not to breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray (P260), and calls for respiratory protection when ventilation is inadequate (P284).
- label: In a fire
line: Toxic metal compounds and hydrogen selenide can be released. The safety data sheet calls for a self-contained respirator and a special powder for metal fires, and says do not use water.
- title: If heated with acid
lead: The hazard here is a gas, not a cell failure. These statements come from the chemical database and the safety data sheet, not from field incidents.
points:
- label: Hydrogen selenide
line: ChemBK states that when heated and exposed to acid, lead selenide gives off highly toxic hydrogen selenide gas.
- label: Hazard disagreement
line: The safety data sheet and Wikipedia list different hazard codes, and PubChem lists more of them. All three lists are kept in the record.
- title: Handling and storage
points:
- label: Storage
line: Keep the container tightly sealed and store it in a cool, dry place, as the safety data sheet requires.
- label: Exposure
line: The safety data sheet lists a PEL (USA) long-term value of 0.2 mg/m3 as Se for lead(II) selenide.
why: 'Lead selenide (PbSe) is a narrow-gap semiconductor compound. It has a band gap of 0.27 eV at room temperature per a 2022 Nanomaterials paper, which places its response in the mid-infrared. Wikipedia says it is used to manufacture infrared detectors for thermal imaging and detects infrared radiation of wavelengths from 1.5 to 5.2 μm. Its main trade-off is toxicity: the supplier safety data sheet classes it as fatal if swallowed or inhaled. Its melting point is printed differently in three sources, 1065 °C, 1078 °C and 1088 °C, and all three are kept.'
uses:
- where: Mid-infrared photodetectors
line: A 2022 study of iodine-sensitized PbSe films reports a responsivity of 0.237 A/W at 2250 nm. The same device detects over 2250 nm to 5000 nm, and the paper does not print the test temperature.
- where: Infrared detectors for thermal imaging
line: Wikipedia says lead selenide is used to manufacture infrared detectors for thermal imaging and opened the market for uncooled MWIR imaging cameras.
- where: Nanocrystal solar cells
line: Wikipedia names lead selenide nanocrystals, used as quantum dots, as an example in nanocrystal solar cells. It gives no efficiency figure.
can_do:
- label: Detect mid-infrared radiation
line: an iodine-sensitized film responds at 2250 nm with a responsivity of 0.237 A/W, per the 2022 Nanomaterials paper.
- label: Act as a thermoelectric material
line: Wikipedia calls lead selenide a thermoelectric material, and the abstract read here gives a Seebeck coefficient of ~ 198 μV K−1 and a thermal conductivity of 0.74 W m−1 K−1, both at 300 K.
- label: Band gap
line: Respond to mid-infrared light because of its narrow band gap of 0.27 eV at room temperature, per the 2022 Nanomaterials paper.
compare: The three melting points printed for lead selenide (1065 °C in the safety data sheet, 1078 °C in Wikipedia and 1088 °C in ChemBK) differ by more than the rounding in any one source, so the most reliable figure is not settled by these sources. The density is printed as 8.1 g/cm3 by the safety data sheet and as 8.10 g/cm3 by the supplier's product page. Both agree on the same value to the precision printed.
compare_rows:
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Melting point
benchmark: melting_point
- label: Thermal conductivity
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
handling:
- The safety data sheet classes the powder as fatal if swallowed or inhaled, so use it only with local exhaust and respiratory protection where ventilation is inadequate.
- Keep the container tightly sealed in a cool, dry place.
- Do not let it contact acid when hot, because it releases hydrogen selenide.
good_for:
- Mid-infrared photodetector research. A 2022 study measured a responsivity of 0.237 A/W at 2250 nm for an iodine-sensitized film.
- Thermal-imaging detector manufacture. Wikipedia says lead selenide is used for these detectors and can detect 1.5 to 5.2 μm.
watch_out:
- Toxicity. The safety data sheet classes it as fatal if swallowed or inhaled, with H300+H330.
- Conflicting melting points. The sources give 1065 °C, 1078 °C and 1088 °C.
- No ageing or humidity data. No long-term air or humidity ageing test was found.
verdict: Lead selenide is a useful narrow-gap infrared material, but the toxicity is significant, and the sources read here give no ageing, space or flight data.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
Updated