Polycrystalline lead selenide material that is processed after a sensitization technology offers the additional physical effects of carrier recombination suppression and carrier transport manipulation, making it sufficiently sensitive to mid-infrared radiation at room temperature. Low-cost and large-scale integration with existing electronic platforms such as complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) technology and multi-pixel readout electronics enable a photodetector based on polycrystalline lead selenide coating to work in high-speed, low-cost, and low-power consumption applications. It also shows huge potential to compound with other materials or structures, such as the metasurface for novel optoelectronic devices and more marvelous properties. Here, we provide an overview and evaluation of the preparations, physical effects, properties, and potential applications, as well as the optoelectronic enhancement mechanism, of lead selenide polycrystalline coatings.