NANOCOMPOSITE THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MATERIAL, METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME, AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT

摘要

A nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material is provided in which crystal grains of a thermoelectric material parent phase are stacked in a laminar configuration and are oriented, the width of the crystal grains perpendicular to the direction of this orientation is in a range from at least 5 nm to less than 20 nm, and insulating nanoparticles are present dispersed at the grain boundaries. Also provided is a method of producing a nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material, by which the crystal grains of a thermoelectric material parent phase are oriented by cooling a material under compression at a cooling rate of at least l°C/minute to less than 20°C/minute. A thermoelectric conversion element that contains the aforementioned nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material is also provided.