Nanocomposite thermoelectric energy conversion material, process for producing the same and thermoelectric energy conversion element

摘要

A nanocomposite thermoelectric energy conversion material is provided in which crystal grains of a thermoelectric material parent phase are laminated and oriented in a laminar configuration, the width of the crystal grains perpendicular to the direction of this orientation is in a range of at least 5 nm to less than 20 nm and insulating nanoparticles dispersed at the grain boundaries. There is also provided a method of making a nanocomposite thermoelectric energy conversion material in 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 1 ° C / minute to less than 20 ° C / minute , A thermoelectric energy conversion element containing the aforementioned nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material is also provided.