Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Murata Manufacturingco., Ltd.

Sachiko Hayashi

Osamu Chikagawa

Takanori Nakamura

Shuichi Funahashi

A thermoelectric conversion element that includes a laminated body having a plurality of first thermoelectric conversion portions, a plurality of second thermoelectric conversion portions, and an insulator layer. The first thermoelectric conversion portions and the second thermoelectric conversion portions are alternately arranged in a Y-axis direction and bonded to each other in first regions, and the insulator layer is interposed between the first thermoelectric conversion portions and the second thermoelectric conversion portions in second regions. The insulator layer surrounds a periphery of each of the second thermoelectric conversion portions. A ratio (W2/W1) of a thickness (W2) of the first thermoelectric conversion portion to a thickness (W1) of the second thermoelectric conversion portion in the Y-axis direction is greater than 4 and 11 or less.

Thermoelectric conversion element and method of manufacturing thermoelectric conversion element

A thermoelectric conversion module includes a module main body having a length direction and a height direction which is perpendicular to the length direction. The module main body include a row of alternating first and second thermoelectric conversion elements each of which is elongated in the height direction and has upper and lower surfaces. First and second electrodes are connected to respective ones of the plurality of first and second thermoelectric conversion elements. An insulator covers both the upper and lower surfaces of the first and second thermoelectric conversion elements. A lower heat transfer plates is provided on the lower part of the insulatorand an upper heat transfer plate is provided on the upper part of the insulator.

Thermoelectric conversion element, thermoelectric conversion module, and electrical device

An n-type thermoelectric conversion material that has a high Seebeck coefficient, a low electric resistivity, and a large power factor includes, as its main constituent, a metal material mainly containing Ni, and includes an oxide material containing Sr, Ti, and a rare-earth element in the range of about 10 wt % to about 30 wt %. The oxide material is a SrTiObased oxide material. For producing the thermoelectric conversion material, through the steps of mixing and grinding a SrTiObased oxide material and a Ni metal powder to prepare a mixture, forming this mixture into a shape to prepare a compact, and then firing the compact, the thermoelectric conversion material is obtained.

Thermoelectric conversion material and method for producing thermoelectric conversion material

A thermoelectric conversion element, a thermoelectric conversion module, and a method for producing a thermoelectric conversion element are provided, each of the element and the module having a low contact resistance between a p-type thermoelectric conversion material and an n-type thermoelectric conversion material and being capable of being used at high temperatures without deterioration due to oxidation. A p-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material is primarily made of a substance having a layered perovskite structure represented by the formula: ABO, wherein A includes at least La, and B represents at least one element including at least Cu. An n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material is primarily made of a substance having a layered perovskite structure represented by the formula: DEO, wherein D includes at least one of Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd, and E represents at least one element including at least Cu. The p-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material, the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material, and a composite insulating material are co-sintered. A glass having a softening point of about 550&#xb0; C. to about 750&#xb0; C. is used as a glass defining the composite insulating material.

Thermoelectric conversion element, thermoelectric conversion module, method for producing thermoelectric conversion element

A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material containing a metal as its main constituent, an n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material containing an oxide as its main constituent, and a composite oxide insulating material containing a composite oxide as its main constituent. The p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material are directly bonded in a region of a junction plane between the p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material, and the p-type metal thermoelectric conversion material and the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material are bonded to each other with the composite oxide insulating material interposed therebetween so as to define a pn conjunction pair in the other region of the junction plane. A perovskite-type oxide is used as the n-type oxide thermoelectric conversion material.

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Nagaokakyo, Japan

Sachiko Hayashi