Thermoelectric Conversion Element of Metal Oxide

Daiken Chemical Co., Ltd. is studying the thermoelectric conversion element of metal oxide jointly with Nagoya University and Japan Science and Technology Corporation as part of ecology research, which can convert waste heat directly to the electric power.  The use of oxides enables the application in the high-temperature region where a great temperature margin can be provided, which has been unable to be met with conventional thermoelectric conversion elements.

	Heating one end (top) of the sample produces temperature difference in thesample. ↓ The produced temperature difference also produces difference of carriers density in the sample. ↓ By the gradient of the carrier concentration, carriers are diffused from higher side to a lower one. ↓ As a result, the potential is produced between terminals on low temperature side.
	The graph shows the characteristics of power-generation module using (ZnO)5(In0.97Y0.03)2O2

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