P-type thermoelectric converting substance and method of manufacturing the same

摘要

A p-type thermoelectric converting substance used as a p-type semiconductor in a thermoelectric converting module essentially consisting of a substance expressed by a chemical formula of CoSbxSny or CoSbxGey (2.7<x<3.4, 0<y<0.4, x+y>3), and containing a small amount of oxygen z defined by 2(x+y-3)≥z. An amount of oxygen z is preferably limited such that an amount of the oxygen is not higher than 0.1 molecules per 1 molecule of Co. An alloy ingot essentially consisting of CoSbxSny or CoSbxGey (2.7<x<3.4, 0<y<0.4, x+y>3) is ground to obtain a raw material powder. Then, the powder is cast into a mold, and the mold is sintered under a non-oxidizing atmosphere or reducing atmosphere. The thus obtained substance reveals the p-conductivity type in a stable manner over a wide temperature range and has excellent thermoelectric converting properties.