JP5200884B2 - Thermoelectric power generation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermoelectric power generation device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy.

  Thermoelectric power generation is a technology that directly converts thermal energy into electrical energy using the Seebeck effect in which an electromotive force is generated in proportion to the temperature difference applied to both ends of a substance. This technology has been put to practical use in remote power supplies, space power supplies, military power supplies, and the like.

  A conventional thermoelectric power generation device has a so-called π-type structure in which a p-type semiconductor and an n-type semiconductor having different carrier signs are combined and thermally connected in parallel and electrically in series.

The performance of a thermoelectric conversion material used for a thermoelectric conversion device is often evaluated by a figure of merit ZT or a figure of merit ZT made dimensionless by applying an absolute temperature. ZT is a quantity described as ZT = S ² T / ρκ, using S = Seebeck coefficient, ρ = electric resistivity, κ = thermal conductivity of the substance. On the other hand, S ² / ρ considering only the Seebeck coefficient S and the electrical resistivity ρ is called a power factor, and is a standard for determining the quality of the power generation performance of the thermoelectric material when the temperature difference is constant.

Bi ₂ Te ₃ materials such as Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ (0 ≦ a ≦ 2) that are currently in practical use as thermoelectric conversion materials have a ZT of about 1 and a power factor of 40 to 50 μW / cmK ^2. In the present situation, it has relatively high characteristics. However, the power generation performance is not so high when a normal π-type device configuration is used, and it has not been put to practical use in more applications.

  On the other hand, as a device configuration other than the π-type, a device using anisotropy of thermoelectric properties in a naturally or artificially laminated structure has been proposed for a long time (see Non-Patent Document 1). .

  However, according to Non-Patent Document 1, since improvement of ZT is not seen in such a device, development that is mainly applied to measurement applications such as infrared sensors is being performed instead of thermoelectric generation applications. .

In such a situation, the present inventors, in a device utilizing the thermoelectric property anisotropy in a laminated structure of different materials made of Bi, which is a metal and a thermoelectric material, have a thickness ratio of each material in the laminated body and a lamination direction. By appropriately selecting the inclination angle, it was found that the power factor greatly exceeded the power factor of Bi ₂ Te ₃ system material, which is considered to be Bi or Te2, and a thermoelectric power generation device using this was invented. (Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 4078392 THERMOELECTRICS HANDBOOK, Chapter 45, CRC Press (2006)

  As described above, a conventional thermoelectric power generation device having a π-type structure cannot obtain sufficient power generation performance in many applications.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a new thermoelectric power generation device having high power generation characteristics utilizing anisotropy of thermoelectric characteristics in a laminated structure of different materials.

In order to solve the conventional problem, a thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention is sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode arranged opposite to each other, and the first and second electrodes. A first metal layer Bi ₂ that is electrically connected to both of the two electrodes and has a metal and an electrical insulator with respect to the stacking direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second electrodes oppose each other; -ASbaTe ₃ layers (a is 0.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.2), and a laminate composed of layers laminated in order of a second metal layer having a metal and an electrical insulator, and the first and second metals. The electrical insulator in each layer is in contact with a surface facing the surface where the metal is in contact with the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and an angle of a connection surface with the metal is opposed to the first and second electrodes. In the state where the angle θ is inclined with respect to the direction. And the second electrodes are arranged periodically or close to the opposite direction, and are arranged so as to be shifted from each other by a half cycle or near a half cycle, and the second electrode is disposed in the first metal layer. The length in the stacking direction is equal to or longer than the length of the first metal layer and less than the total length of the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer, The length of the electrical insulator in the two metal layers in the stacking direction is equal to or greater than the length of the second metal layer, and the total of the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer. Configured to be less than the length of.

According to the thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention, the inclination angle θ formed by the metal constituting the first and second metal layers, the connecting surface of the electrical insulator, and the opposing direction of the first and second electrodes, the first and second Appropriate selection of the ratio between the period in which the electrical insulator is disposed in the metal layer and the thickness of the first and second metal layers, and the ratio between the period in which the electrical insulator is disposed and the thickness of the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer By doing so, it is possible to obtain high power generation characteristics that greatly exceed the performance of the constituent material alone. As a result, thermoelectric power generation exceeding the conventional performance becomes possible, and a practical thermoelectric power generation device is realized. That is, it promotes the application of energy conversion between heat and electricity, and the industrial value of the present invention is high.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1 to 3 are diagrams showing a configuration of a thermoelectric generator device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of the thermoelectric generator, FIG. 2 is a front view of the thermoelectric generator, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the thermoelectric generator.

As shown in FIG. 1, the thermoelectric generator is configured such that the stacked body is sandwiched between the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 that are arranged to face each other. The stacked body is electrically connected in the order of the first metal layer 13, the Bi _2−a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15, and the second metal layer 14, and the stacking direction Z of the stacked body is relative to the opposing direction X of the electrodes. Orthogonal. The metal 16 and the electrical insulator 17 are periodically connected to the first metal layer 13 and the second metal layer 14, respectively, and the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15 is formed from the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ and A part of the electrical insulator 17 is connected. Here, a is a numerical value in the range of 0 ≦ a ≦ 2. The Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15 may cause a compositional deviation depending on the manufacturing method, but if the deviation is within 20% from the composition ratio, the performance is not significantly impaired, and thus it is acceptable.

  As shown in the front view of FIG. 2, the direction 21 of each connection surface is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the opposing direction X of the electrodes. Further, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the electrical insulators 17 are arranged with the same distance period (x in FIG. 2). At the same time, the distance cycle between the electrical insulators 17 in the first metal layer and the distance cycle between the electrical insulators 17 in the second metal layer are shifted from each other by a half cycle.

The depth of the electrical insulator 17 in the stacking direction (Z in FIG. 1) of the stacked body only needs to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the metal layer, and the metal layer on one side and the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer as shown in FIG. It is preferable to be equal to the total length of the thicknesses. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the electric insulator may be formed so as to enter only a part of the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer. Further, as long as the entire laminated structure is not completely divided by the electrical insulator as shown in FIG. 5, the electrical insulator may partially reach the metal on the other surface.

  A direction in which a temperature difference is applied when driving the thermoelectric device configured as described above, that is, a direction Y in which a temperature gradient is generated is orthogonal to the opposing direction X of the electrodes as shown in FIG. The generated power is taken out through the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the high temperature portion 62 is closely attached to one surface where the electrode of the thermoelectric generation device 61 is not disposed, and the low temperature portion 63 is closely attached to the other surface, so that a temperature difference with respect to the thermoelectric generation device is obtained. Apply. In this configuration, the direction Y in which the temperature gradient occurs is perpendicular to the opposing direction of the electrodes as shown in FIG.

In a conventional thermoelectric power generation device having a π-type structure, an electromotive force is generated only in the direction parallel to the direction in which the temperature difference is applied, and no electromotive force is generated in the vertical direction. Although details will be described in the examples described later, the present inventors have unexpectedly examined the relationship between the predetermined conditions and the thermoelectric power generation performance by examining and optimizing various conditions. It was found that a large thermoelectric power generation performance can be obtained. More specifically, the relationship between the thermoelectric generation performance and the angle formed by the direction 21 of the connection surface between the metal 16 and the electrical insulator 17 and the facing direction X of the electrode was examined. In addition, the relationship between the cycle of arranging the electrical insulator 17 in the first and second metal layers, the ratio of the thickness of the metal layer, and the thermoelectric generation performance was examined. Further, the relationship between the cycle and the thickness ratio of the Bi _{2 -a} Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15 and the thermoelectric generation performance was examined.

The first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 in the thermoelectric generator of the present invention are not particularly limited as long as the materials have good electrical conductivity. Specifically, metals such as Cu, Ag, Mo, W, Al, Ti, Cr, Au, Pt, and In or nitrides or oxides such as TiN, tin-added indium oxide (ITO), and SnO ₂ are preferable. Also, solder or conductive paste can be used.

  The metal 16 constituting the first metal layer 13 and the second metal layer 14 should preferably have a high thermal conductivity and a low electrical resistivity. Specifically, it is Cu, Ag, Au, Al or an alloy made of these materials, among which Cu, Ag, and Au are preferable, and Cu and Ag are particularly preferable.

The electrical insulator 17 is not particularly limited as long as it is an electrical insulator. Specifically, oxides such as SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , ZrO ₂ , Ta ₂ O ₅ , nitrides such as Si ₃ N _4, and resins such as epoxy are preferable. The electrical insulator 17 may be a gas such as air, nitrogen, or a vacuum.

  An example of a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The three-layered laminate including the first metal layer 13, the second metal layer 14, and the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15 includes, for example, _two rectangular plates of Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ It can be manufactured by heating and pressure-bonding with a rectangular metal plate (S1 in FIG. 7).

  Next, grooving is performed on the three-layer laminated structure with a blade or the like (S2 in FIG. 7). At this time, the processing may be performed so that the longitudinal direction of the groove is inclined in advance with respect to the long side of the laminated structure. Further, groove processing may be performed in an arbitrary direction, and the laminated structure may be cut out later by cutting to adjust the inclination angle formed by the outline and the groove. Groove processing is performed from both sides of the laminated structure, and at this time, the period of the groove positions on both surfaces is the same period, and the groove positions are arranged so as to be shifted from each other by a half period. The depth of the groove needs to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the metal 16 so that the metal 16 is completely divided by each groove.

  Next, after filling the groove with the paste containing the electric insulator powder, the electric insulator 17 can be formed in the groove by solidifying by heat treatment or the like, or by drying after filling with a liquid resin ( S3 in FIG.

  Next, the thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention can be manufactured by manufacturing the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12 on both side surfaces facing the X direction of the laminate (S4 in FIG. 7).

  As a method for manufacturing the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12, various methods such as coating of conductive paste, plating, thermal spraying, and joining by soldering can be used in addition to vapor deposition such as vapor deposition and sputtering. .

The ratio of the thickness x of the period x in which the electrical insulator 17 is disposed in the laminate constituting the device to the first metal layer 13 and the second metal layer 14 may be in the range of 100: 1 to 1: 1. Preferably, it is in the range of 40: 1 to 1: 1. The ratio of the period x in which the electrical insulator 17 is arranged to the thickness of the Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 15 (period x: Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer) is 1000: 1 to 10: 1. It is preferably in the range, more preferably in the range of 400: 1 to 10: 1. This is because the power factor (S ² / ρ) does not become sufficiently large outside this range, as will be understood from Example 2 described later.

Further, it is preferable that the angle θ formed by the direction 21 of the connecting surface of the electrical insulator 17 and the facing direction 18 of the electrode is in the range of 10 ° to 70 °, and is 20 ° to 50 °. Is more preferable. This is because the power factor (S ² / ρ) does not increase sufficiently when the angle is less than 10 ° or exceeds 70 °, as will be understood from Example 1 described later.

  The manufacturing method of the thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention is not particularly limited to the above method as long as it is a method for realizing the device structure. For example, a laminated body as shown in S2 of FIG. 7 is manufactured by periodically bonding parallelogram-shaped metal plates to both surfaces of a rectangular thermoelectric material plate at a constant interval, and further a post-process. It is also possible to produce the thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention by adding

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermoelectric generator device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 8, a plate-like laminate manufactured in the same procedure as in the first embodiment is electrically connected via a connection electrode 81 to form a flat plate. By increasing the application area using the thermoelectric power generation device configured as described above, a larger amount of power generation can be obtained as a whole.

The connection electrode 81 in this device is not particularly limited as long as it is a material having good electrical conductivity. Specifically, metals such as Cu, Ag, Mo, W, Al, Ti, Cr, Au, Pt, and In, or nitrides and oxides such as TiN, tin-added indium oxide (ITO), and SnO ₂ are preferable. Also, solder or conductive paste can be used. As a manufacturing method, various methods such as plating and thermal spraying can be used in addition to vapor deposition such as vapor deposition and sputtering.

  When driving the thermoelectric power generation device manufactured in this way, a temperature difference is applied by causing a high temperature part to adhere to one surface of the flat device and a low temperature part to the other surface to generate a heat flow. The electric power converted by the present device from the heat flow can be extracted to the outside through the extraction electrode 82.

  In configuring the thermoelectric power generation device in the present embodiment, the laminates may be electrically connected in parallel in addition to being electrically connected in series via the connection electrodes. When the laminates are connected in series, the voltage for extracting power increases. In addition to reducing the internal resistance of the entire thermoelectric power generation device, connecting the stacked bodies in parallel has the advantage of maintaining the electrical connection of the entire device even if the electrical connection is partially broken. . That is, a thermoelectric power generation device having high power generation capability can be configured by appropriately combining these series and parallel connections.

(Example)
Hereinafter, more specific examples of the present invention will be described.

Example 1
The thermoelectric power generation device of the present invention was fabricated using a thermoelectric material and several metal materials. Bi _0.5 Sb _1.5 Te ₃ was used as the thermoelectric material. Further, Au, Ag, Cu, and Al were used as metals. Au was used for the first electrode 11 and the second electrode 12. The laminate of the thermoelectric material and the metal was obtained by thermocompression bonding a metal plate of 200 mm × 5 mm × 2 mm on both sides of a plate made of a thermoelectric material of 200 mm × 5 mm × 0.2 mm as shown in FIG. Next, an end mill is used to groove the metal portion of the metal / thermoelectric material / metal laminate so that the width from both sides is 0.5 mm, the depth is 2.2 mm, and the inclination angle θ with respect to the long side of the laminate is 30 °. went. The distance between the grooves corresponding to x in FIG. 1 was 20 mm, and the grooves were arranged periodically. Further, the positions of the grooves were arranged so as to be shifted by a half cycle on each surface.

  Thereafter, electrodes made of Au were formed on both ends of the long side by sputtering, and a device having a structure as shown in FIG. 1 was produced.

The power generation performance was evaluated for the prepared samples. As shown in FIG. 6, one side of the flat plate device was heated to 40 ° C. with a heater, the other side was cooled to 30 ° C. with water cooling, and the electromotive voltage and electrical resistance between the terminals were measured. In the case of a device in which the groove is inclined by 30 ° using copper as the metal plate, the electromotive force was 18.4 mV and the resistance was 0.44 mΩ. From this, the power factor was estimated to be 457 μW / cmK ² . When the performance of devices having different inclination angles using each metal material was measured in the same procedure, the results shown in Table 1 were obtained.

From the above results, it was found that excellent device characteristics exceeding 200 μW / cmK ² can be obtained when the inclination angle is 20 ° to 50 ° for each metal material except Al. In particular, when Ag or Cu was used as the metal material, it was confirmed that the performance was higher than other metals. In Al, the same or better performance as Bi ₂ Te ₃ was obtained when the inclination angle was 10 ° to 70 °.

(Example 2)
In the same manner as in Example 1, multilayer devices having different metal thicknesses were configured using Cu and Ag as metal materials. Bi _1.0 Sb _1.0 Te ₃ was used as the thermoelectric material. The inclination angle of the grooves was 30 °, and the distance between the grooves was 20 mm. Also, the thickness of the thermoelectric material is fixed to 0.2 mm, and the thickness of the metal plate is changed to 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, 5 mm, 20 mm, 50 mm, and the laminated structure with the thermoelectric material Was made. The device outer shape was 200 mm long and 5 mm wide. Table 2 shows the measurement result of the power factor of the thermoelectric power generation device using copper as the metal. The performance was influenced by the ratio of the groove period and the Cu thickness, and it was confirmed that the best performance was obtained in the vicinity of 10: 1. This tendency was the same when Ag was used as the metal material.

(Example 3)
In the same manner as in Example 1, laminated devices having different thermoelectric material thicknesses were configured using Cu and Ag as metal materials. Bi _1.5 Sb _0.5 Te ₃ was used as the thermoelectric material. The inclination angle of the groove is 30 °, the period of the groove is 20 mm, the thickness of the metal material is fixed to 10 mm, and the thickness of the thermoelectric material plate is 0.01 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.4 mm, 0.8 mm, A laminated structure with metal was manufactured by changing the thickness to 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm. The external shape of the device was 200 mm long and 5 mm high. Table 3 shows the measurement results of the power factor of the thermoelectric power generation device using copper as the metal. The performance was influenced by the ratio of the groove period and the thickness of the thermoelectric material, and it was confirmed that the performance was the best around 100: 1. This tendency was the same when Ag was used as the metal material.

Example 4
In order to increase the mounting area and obtain a larger amount of power generation, a thermoelectric power generation device as shown in FIG. 8 using Cu as the metal material, the connection electrode 81, and the extraction electrode 82 was produced.

A laminate made of Cu and the thermoelectric material Bi _0.5 Sb _1.5 Te ₃ was produced in the same procedure as in Example 1. First, a Cu plate of 200 mm × 5 mm × 2 mm was obtained by thermocompression bonding on both surfaces of a plate material made of Bi _0.5 Sb _1.5 Te ₃ of 200 mm × 5 mm × 0.2 mm. Next, an end mill is used to groove the metal portion of the metal / thermoelectric material / metal laminate so that the width from both sides is 0.5 mm, the depth is 2.2 mm, and the inclination angle θ with respect to the long side of the laminate is 30 °. went. The groove period corresponding to x in FIG. 1 was 20 mm, and the positions of the grooves were arranged so as to be shifted by a half period on each surface.

  A total of 15 similar laminates were produced in the above process. In addition, a plate having a thickness of 0.5 mm was used as Cu for the connection electrode 81 and the extraction electrode 82.

  The 15 laminates thus prepared were arranged at intervals of 1 mm, and the connection electrode 81 and the extraction electrode 82 were electrically connected by heating and pressing using a 50 μm thick In foil. At this time, in order not to cancel the electromotive force due to the heat flow, the inclined structures of the adjacent stacked bodies are arranged so as to be opposite to each other as shown in FIG. And the space | interval between adjacent laminated bodies and the groove part of a laminated body were filled with resin, and the flat thermoelectric device of about 200 mm x 80 mm x 5 mm was produced. When the resistance value between the extraction electrodes 82 was measured, it was 9 mΩ.

The power generation characteristics of the thermoelectric power generation device of this example produced by the above procedure were evaluated. One side of the device of 200 mm × 80 mm was cooled with water through an alumina plate to form a low temperature part. A ceramic heater serving as a high temperature part was adhered to the other surface of the device. When the low temperature part was kept at 25 ° C. and the high temperature part was kept at 40 ° C. with such a configuration, the open end electromotive force was 0.35 V, and a high value of 240 μW / cmK ² was obtained when the power factor was estimated. As a result, a maximum of 4.4 W of power could be extracted from this device.

  As described above, the thermoelectric power generation device according to the present invention has excellent power generation characteristics and can be used as a power generator using heat such as exhaust gas discharged from an automobile or a factory.

  It can also be applied to small portable generators.

  The present invention is applicable to a thermoelectric power generation device that converts thermal energy into electrical energy.

The figure which showed the structure of the thermoelectric power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention Front view of thermoelectric power generation device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The top view of the thermoelectric-power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The top view of the thermoelectric-power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The top view of the thermoelectric-power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the structure at the time of driving the thermoelectric power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the manufacturing process of the thermoelectric-power generation device in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the structure of the thermoelectric power generation device in Embodiment 2 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st electrode 12 2nd electrode 13 1st metal layer 14 2nd metal layer 15 Bi _2-a Sb _a Te ₃ layer 16 Metal 17 Electrical insulator 21 Direction of connection surface 61 Thermoelectric power generation device 62 High temperature part 63 Low temperature part 64 Direction of temperature gradient 81 Connection electrode 82 Extraction electrode

Claims (24)

A power generation method using a thermoelectric generation device that generates a temperature difference in the thermoelectric generation device and obtains electric power from the device,
The device is
A first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other;
A metal sandwiched between the first and second electrodes, electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, and in a stacking direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first and second electrodes face each other. And a first metal layer having an electrical insulator, a Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer (a is 0 ≦ a ≦ 2), and a second metal layer having a metal and an electrical insulator are stacked in this order. A laminate, and
The electrical insulators in the first and second metal layers are respectively in contact with a surface facing the surface where the metal contacts the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and an angle of a connection surface with the metal is the first In a state where the angle θ is inclined with respect to the direction in which the second electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other, the first and second electrodes are arranged in a periodical manner or close to the periodicity, and are half a cycle from each other. Or arranged with a half-cycle offset,
The length of the electrical insulator in the first metal layer in the stacking direction is equal to or greater than the length of the first metal layer, and the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer. Is less than the total length of
The length of the electrical insulator in the second metal layer in the stacking direction is equal to or longer than the length of the second metal layer, and the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer. Is less than the total length of
A power generation method for extracting electric power through the first and second electrodes by applying a temperature difference in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the first and second electrodes oppose each other and the stacking direction. The angle θ formed by the connection surface formed by the metal and the electrical insulator with respect to the direction in which the first and second electrodes face each other is 10 ° or more and 70 ° or less.
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The angle θ is 20 ° or more and 50 ° or less.
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The metal comprises Al, Cu, Ag, or Au;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The metal includes Cu, Ag, or Au;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The metal comprises Cu or Ag;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. A ratio of a period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to a thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in a range from 100: 1 to 1: 1;
The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 1000: 1 to 10: 1;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in the range of 40: 1 to 1: 1;
The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 400: 1 to 10: 1;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1. The power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 1, wherein a power factor of the device is 100 (μW / (cm · K ² )) or more. The metal in the first and second metal layers comprises Al, Cu, Ag or Au;
A ratio of a period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to a thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in a range from 100: 1 to 1: 1;
The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 1000: 1 to 10: 1;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 2. The metal in the first and second metal layers comprises Cu or Ag;
The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in the range of 40: 1 to 1: 1;
The ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers to the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 400: 1 to 10: 1;
A power generation method using the thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 3. The power generation method using the thermoelectric generator according to claim 11, wherein the power factor of the device is 100 (μW / (cm · K ² )) or more. A first electrode and a second electrode disposed opposite to each other;
With respect to the stacking direction sandwiched between the first and second electrodes, electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, and orthogonal to the direction in which the first and second electrodes face each other A first metal layer having a metal and an electrical insulator, a Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer (a is 0 ≦ a ≦ 2),
A laminate composed of layers laminated in order of a second metal layer having a metal and an electrical insulator,
The electrical insulators in the first and second metal layers are respectively in contact with a surface facing the surface where the metal contacts the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and an angle of a connection surface with the metal is the first And in a state where the second electrode is inclined at an angle θ with respect to the opposing direction, the first and second electrodes are arranged periodically or close to the periodicity with respect to the opposing direction, and are half a period of each other. Or it is arranged with a shift of nearly half a cycle ,
The length of the electrical insulator in the first metal layer in the stacking direction is equal to or greater than the length of the first metal layer, and the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer. Is less than the total length of
The length of the electrical insulator in the second metal layer in the stacking direction is equal to or longer than the length of the second metal layer, and the first metal layer, the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer, and the second metal layer. The thermoelectric device that is less than the total length of . The angle θ formed by the connection surface formed by the metal and the electrical insulator with respect to the direction in which the first and second electrodes face each other is 10 ° or more and 70 ° or less.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The angle θ is 20 ° or more and 50 ° or less.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The metal comprises Al, Cu, Ag, or Au;
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The metal includes Cu, Ag, or Au;
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The metal comprises Cu or Ag;
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. A period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: a ratio of the thicknesses of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in a range from 100: 1 to 1: 1;
And the ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 1000: 1 to 10: 1.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the ratio of the thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in the range of 40: 1 to 1: 1;
And the ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range from 400: 1 to 10: 1.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 13, wherein a power factor of the device is 100 (μW / (cm · K ² )) or more. The metal in the first and second metal layers comprises Al, Cu, Ag or Au;
A period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: a ratio of the thicknesses of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in a range from 100: 1 to 1: 1;
And the ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range of 1000: 1 to 10: 1.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 14. The metal in the first and second metal layers comprises Cu or Ag;
The period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the ratio of the thickness of the first metal layer and the second metal layer is in the range of 40: 1 to 1: 1;
And the ratio of the period in which the electrical insulator is provided in the first and second metal layers: the thickness of the Bi ₂ -aSbaTe ₃ layer is in the range from 400: 1 to 10: 1.
The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 15. The thermoelectric power generation device according to claim 23, wherein the power factor of the device is 100 (μW / (cm · K ² )) or more.

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