Abstract
It was recently predicted \cite{parker} and experimentally confirmed \cite{sny_PbSe} that $p$-type PbSe would be a good thermoelectric material. Recent experimental work \cite{pers2} now suggests that $n$-type PbSe can also be a good thermoelectric material. We now re-examine the thermoelectric performance of PbSe with a revised approximation which improves band gap accuracy.
We now find that $n$-type PbSe {\it can} be a high performance material, with thermopowers as high in magnitude as 250 $\mu$V/K at 1000 K and 300 $\mu$V/K at 800 K. Optimal 1000 K $n$-type doping ranges are between 2 $\times 10^{19}$cm$^{-3}$ and 8 $\times 10^{19}$cm$^{-3}$, while at 800 K the corresponding range is
from 7 $\times$10$^{18}$ to 4 $\times $10$^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$.
