Thermoelectric element and thermoelectric module

• Main Authors: NAOKO ANDO, SAORI URATA
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 18.01.2006
• Subjects: ELECTRICITY

The present invention provides a thermoelectric element comprising an electrically conductive substrate 2, a p-type thermoelectric material 5, and an n-type thermoelectric material 6; the p-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material 3, and the n-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material 4; wherein each thermoelectric material comprises a specific oxide and each electrically conductive thermal buffer material comprises an electrically conductive material having a thermal expansion coefficient between that of the thermoelectric material to which the thermal buffer material is bonded and that of the substrate. The invention also provides a thermoelectric module comprising a plurality of the thermoelectric elements. The thermoelectric element and the thermoelectric module have both a high thermoelectric conversion efficiency and excellent properties in terms of thermal stability, chemical durability, etc.