ELECTRICITY GENERATION METHOD USING THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION ELEMENT, THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION ELEMENT AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND THERMOELECTRIC GENERATION DEVICE
The thermoelectric power generation element includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes, where the laminate has a structure in which Bi 2 Te 3 layers and metal layers containing Ni or Co are laminated alternately, a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=20:1 to 0.5:1, lamination surfaces of the Bi 2 Te 3 layers and the metal layers are inclined at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other, and a temperature difference generated in a direction perpendicular to the direction in the element generates a potential difference between the first and second electrodes.
1 . An electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element, the method comprising steps of:
(a) preparing the thermoelectric power element comprising a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and
a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, wherein
the laminate has a structure in which a Bi 2 Te 3 layer and a metal layer containing Ni or Co are laminated alternately,
a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=20:1 to 0.5:1,
lamination surfaces of the Bi 2 Te 3 layer and the metal layer are inclined at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other, and
(b) applying a temperature difference in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other in the element to obtain electric power through the first and second electrodes.
2 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 1 , wherein the inclination angle θ of the lamination surfaces with respect to the direction is 20° to 45°.
3 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer contains Ni or Co.
4 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 1 , wherein the metal layer contains constantan, chromel, or alumel.
5 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 1 , wherein the thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=10:1 to 1:1.
6 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 1 , wherein the element has a power factor of at least 50 (μW/(cm·K 2 )).
7 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 2 , wherein the metal layer contains Ni or Co, and
the thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=10:1 to 1:1.
8 . The electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 7 , wherein the element has a power factor of at least 100 (μW/(cm·K 2 )).
9 . A thermoelectric power generation element, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and
a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, wherein
the laminate has a structure in which a Bi 2 Te 3 layer and a metal layer containing Ni or Co are laminated alternately,
a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=20:1 to 0.5:1, and
lamination surfaces of the Bi 2 Te 3 layer and the metal layer are inclined at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other.
10 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 9 , wherein the inclination angle θ of the lamination surfaces with respect to the direction is 20° to 45°.
11 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 9 , wherein the metal layer contains Ni or Co.
12 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 9 , wherein the metal layer contains constantan, chromel, or alumel.
13 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 9 , wherein the thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=10:1 to 1:1.
14 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 9 , wherein the element has a power factor of at least 50 (μW/(cm·K 2 )).
15 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 10 , wherein the metal layer contains Ni or Co, and
the thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=10:1 to 1:1.
16 . The thermoelectric power generation element according to claim 15 , wherein the element has a power factor of at least 100 (μW/(cm·K 2 )).
17 . A thermoelectric power generation device comprising:
a support plate and a thermoelectric power generation element disposed on the support plate, the element includes first and second electrodes that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes,
the laminate has a structure in which a Bi 2 Te 3 layer and a metal layer containing Ni or Co are laminated alternately,
a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the Bi 2 Te 3 layer is in a range of metal layer:Bi 2 Te 3 layer=20:1 to 0.5:1,
lamination surfaces of the Bi 2 Te 3 layer and the metal layer are inclined at an inclination angle θ of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction in which the electrodes of a pair oppose each other, and
the element is disposed on the support plate in such a manner that a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the electrodes of a pair oppose each other agrees with a direction perpendicular to a surface of the support plate on which the element is disposed.
18 . The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 17 , wherein the device includes at least two of the elements, and
the elements are connected electrically in series with each other through the electrodes.
19 . The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 17 , wherein the device includes at least two of the elements, and
the elements are connected electrically in parallel with each other through the electrodes.