THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION METHOD

摘要

Provided is a thermoelectric conversion element capable of converting both a temperature gradient in an in-plane direction and a temperature gradient in a direction perpendicular to plane into electric power at the same time. The thermoelectric conversion element includes: a substrate (4); a magnetic film (2) provided on the substrate (4) and formed of a polycrystalline magnetic insulator material that is magnetizable in a predetermined direction having a component parallel to a film surface; and electrodes (3, 3a, and 3b) provided to the magnetic film (2) and made of a material having a spin orbit interaction. The thermoelectric conversion element is configured to be capable of outputting a temperature gradient perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic film (2) as a potential difference in a surface of one of the electrodes and outputting a temperature gradient parallel to the surface of the magnetic film (2) as a potential difference between the electrodes.