Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Miho Uehara

Hiroki Sato

Tsutomu Kanno

Yuriko Kaneko

Hiromasa Tamaki

Atsushi Ono

Masashige Kawabe

The thermoelectric conversion element according to the present disclosure comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer, and a thermoelectric conversion layer. The first intermediate layer is provided between the thermoelectric conversion layer and the first electrode. The first intermediate layer is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion layer. The first electrode is in contact with the first intermediate layer. The second intermediate layer is provided between the thermoelectric conversion layer and the second electrode. The second intermediate layer is in contact with the thermoelectric conversion layer. The second electrode is in contact with the second intermediate layer. The first electrode and the second electrode are composed of a CuZn alloy. The thermoelectric conversion layer is composed of a thermoelectric conversion material containing Mg. The thermoelectric conversion material contains at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Sb and Bi. The thermoelectric conversion material contains at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Se and Te. The thermoelectric conversion material has a LaO-type crystalline structure. A composition of the first intermediate layer is different from both a composition of the first electrode and a composition of the thermoelectric conversion layer. A composition of the second intermediate layer is different from both a composition of the second electrode and a composition of the thermoelectric conversion layer.

Thermoelectric conversion element and thermoelectric conversion module

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion module that enables continued use of a thermoelectric generation system even when a part of a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion modules fails by being exposed to a higher temperature. The thermoelectric conversion module according to the present disclosure includes a substrate, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs electrically connected in series on the substrate, a pair of external terminals that carries out one of inputting and outputting of electric power, and a low melting point conductor. The low melting point conductor has a melting point that is substantially equal to a heat-resistant temperature of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element or an n-type thermoelectric conversion element. One of the pair of external terminals has a first connecting part connecting with the p-type thermoelectric conversion element positioned at one end of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs, whereas the other of the pair of external terminals has a second connecting part connecting with the n-type thermoelectric conversion element positioned at the other end of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs. The first and second connecting parts and the low melting point conductor are positioned in an inner region of the substrate. At least a part of the low melting point conductor is positioned between the pair of external terminals and is electrically insulated from at least one of the pair of external terminals.

Thermoelectric conversion module

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Miho Uehara