The present disclosure is related to structures for and methods for producing thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric devices include multiple stages of thermoelements. Each stage includes alternating n-type and p-type thermoelements. The stages are sandwiched between upper and lower sets of metal links fabricated on a pair of substrate layers. The metal links electrically connect pairs of n-type and p-type thermoelements from each stage. There may be additional sets of metal links between the multiple stages. The individual thermoelements may be sized to handle differing amounts of electric current to optimize performance based on their location within the multistage device.

[Object] To provide a thermoelectric generation cell using a safe and inexpensive general-purpose thermoelectric material. [Solving Means] A thermoelectric generation cell, including: a fire-resistant-material frame (310) that holds a plurality of stacked thermoelectric generation units in a state of being insulated from adjacent thermoelectric generation units with each other; a heating section (311) of a plurality of stacked bodies of the thermoelectric generation units, the heating section being provided to the fire-resistant-material frame; and first and second cooling insulation oil sections (312a and 312b) that are provided at both sides of the fire-resistant-material frame, the first and second cooling insulation oil portions (312a and 312b) being provided on sides of first and second cooling sections of the thermoelectric generation units, the thermoelectric generation cell having a structure in which the thermoelectric generation units are bridged while being extended between the first cooling insulation oil section, the fire-resistant-material frame, and the second cooling insulation oil section.

A thermoelectric conversion module is a thermoelectric conversion module in which a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements are electrically connected to each other via a first electrode portion disposed on first end side of the thermoelectric conversion elements and a second electrode portion disposed on the second end side of the thermoelectric conversion elements; a first insulating circuit board provided with a first insulating layer of which at least one surface is made of alumina and the first electrode portion formed of a sintered body of Ag formed on the one surface of the first insulating layer is disposed on the first end side of the thermoelectric conversion elements; and a glass component is present at an interface between the first electrode portion and the first insulating layer.

A thermoelectric element of the present invention comprises a first metal substrate, a first resin layer, a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs, a plurality of second electrodes, a second resin layer, and a second metal substrate, wherein the first metal substrate is a low-temperature portion, the second metal substrate is a high-temperature portion, the second resin layer comprises a first layer and a second layer arranged on the first layer, the first and second layers include a silicon (Si)-based resin, and the bonding strength of the first resin layer is higher than the bonding strength of the second resin layer.

A thermoelectric material may be composed of an isostructural pair of Heusler compounds, either a pair of full Heusler (FH) X.sub.2YZ compounds or a pair of half Heusler (HH) XYZ compounds. In the FH pair, a first compound of the pair may the formula (X1).sub.2Y1Z1, wherein X1 is selected from Fe and Co; Y1 is selected from Ti, V, Nb, Hf, and Ta; and Z1 is selected from Al, Ga, Si, and Sn and a second compound of the pair has the formula (X2).sub.2Y2Z2, wherein X2 is selected from Mn, Fe, Co, Ru, and Rh; Y2 is selected from Ti, V, Mn, Zr, Nb, Hf, and Ta; and Z2 is selected from Be, Al, Ga, Si, Ge and Sn. The first and second compounds of the pair may share two elements in common and have third elements which are different and are either isovalent or have a valency which differs by ±1. In the HH pair, a first compound of the pair may have the formula X1Y1Z1 wherein X1 is selected from Ni and Fe; Y1 is selected from Ti, V, and Nb; and Z1 is selected from Sn and Sb and a second compound of the pair has the formula X2Y2Z2 wherein X2 is selected from Fe, Ru and Pt; Y2 is selected from Ti, V, and Nb; and Z2 is selected from Sn and Sb. The first and second compounds of the pair may share two elements in common and have third elements which are different and are either isovalent or have a valency which differs by ±1. The thermoelectric material at room temperature may have a nanostructured two-phase form having a matrix phase composed of the first compound of the FH pair or the first compound of the HH pair and a nanostructured phase composed of the second compound of the FH pair or the second compound of the HH pair, respectively.

Novel compounds with thermoelectric properties are presented. The novel compounds belong to the group of phosphides. They are characterized by excellent thermoelectric properties, in particularly in the temperature range of 400° C. to 700° C. Also a production method for the production of the compounds is presented, with which the thermoelectric substances can be prepared with high yield and quality.

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for microfabrication of devices, such as semiconductors, thermoelectric devices, etc. Various embodiments may include a method for fabricating a device, such as a semiconductor (e.g., a silicon (Si)-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), etc.), thermoelectric device, etc., using a mask. In some embodiments, the mask may be configured to allow molecules in a deposition plume to pass through one or more holes in the mask. In some embodiments, molecules in a deposition plume may pass around the mask. Various embodiments may provide thermoelectric devices having metallic junctions. Various embodiments may provide thermoelectric devices having metallic junctions rather than junctions formed from semiconductors.

A CMOS-based sensing device includes a substrate including an etched portion and a first region located on the substrate. The first region includes a membrane region formed over an area of the etched portion of the substrate, a flow sensor formed within the membrane region and a pressure sensor formed within the membrane region.

[Object] To provide a thermoelectric generation cell using a safe and inexpensive general-purpose thermoelectric material.

[Solving Means] A thermoelectric generation cell, including: a fire-resistant-material frame (310) that holds a plurality of stacked thermoelectric generation units in a state of being insulated from adjacent thermoelectric generation units with each other; a heating section (311) of a plurality of stacked bodies of the thermoelectric generation units, the heating section being provided to the fire-resistant-material frame; and first and second cooling insulation oil sections (312a and 312b) that are provided at both sides of the fire-resistant-material frame, the first and second cooling insulation oil portions (312a and 312b) being provided on sides of first and second cooling sections of the thermoelectric generation units, the thermoelectric generation cell having a structure in which the thermoelectric generation units are bridged while being extended between the first cooling insulation oil section, the fire-resistant-material frame, and the second cooling insulation oil section.

A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is described herein. The system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes incorporated into an interior surface of the vehicle. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with the vehicle occupant and a second side opposite the first side in contact with the portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device is configured to supply electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.