THERMOELECTRIC MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermoelectric material which is excellent in mechanical strength and working characteristics as well as thermoelectric performance. SOLUTION: In the material, there are comprised an A phase of crystal having composition containing at least one kind of semi-metal element selected among Sb, As, Te, and Se, and a b-layer of a composition containing the semi- metal element constituting A phase and a low melting-point element whose melting point is 100-1000 deg.C. The b-phase comprising Sb66Zn34, for example, is allowed to be present in the A phase grain boundary comprising LaFe3CoSb12. With a high thermoelectric performance of LaFe3CoSb12 maintained, presence of the b-phase provides good mechanical strength and working characteristics.