A thermoelectric conversion module has a plurality of cold side substrates, a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of second electrodes, X-axis connectors, and Y-axis connectors. The second electrodes are disposed on the cold side substrates six at a time. Between adjacent cold side substrates, two of X-axis connectors as inter-substrate connectors or Y-axis connectors are disposed. One of the plurality of inter-substrate connectors is connected from one of the first electrodes positioned on one of the cold side substrates to one of the second electrodes positioned on another one of the cold side substrates. The other inter-substrate connector is connected from the other one of the first electrodes on the another one of the cold side substrates to the second electrode on the one cold side substrate.

A thermoelectric conversion module is disclosed that corrects the difference in thermal resistance between a P-type thermoelectric conversion member and an N-type thermoelectric conversion member. In this thermoelectric conversion module, since insulators included in the P-type thermoelectric conversion member and the N-type thermoelectric conversion member have a different thermal resistance, it is possible to correct the difference in thermal resistance between the P-type thermoelectric conversion element and the N-type thermoelectric conversion element.

A thermoelectric generation module having: a base material; a plurality of electrodes disposed on the base material; and a thermoelectric conversion layer that coats each of the electrodes individually leaving a portion of the electrode to which a wiring is to be connected, wherein the thermoelectric conversion layer adheres to the base material around the electrode excluding the portion of the electrode to which the wiring is to be connected.

An exhaust manifold for a vehicle configured for improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle by improving fluidity of exhaust gas may include a manifold body having a plurality of inlet portions which are outwardly extended and an outlet portion which is outwardly extended, wherein the manifold body may have a flat surface formed on at least a portion of a top surface thereof.

The invention relates to the use of thermo-compression bonding (TCB) for bonding electrically conductive contacts to thermoelectric material pieces, respective processes and thermoelectric modules which are suitable for fitting in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.

Embodiments relate to methods of manufacturing and operating nano-scale energy converters and electric power generators. The nano-scale energy converters include two electrodes separated a predetermined distance. The first electrode is manufactured to have a first work function value. The second electrode is manufactured to have a second work function value different from the first work function value. A cavity is formed between the first and second electrodes, and a nanofluid is disposed in the cavity. The nanofluid includes a plurality of nanoparticles, with the nanoparticles having a third work function value that is greater than the first and second work function values. The relationship of the work function values of the nanoparticles to the work function values of the electrodes optimizes transfer of electrons to the nanoparticles through Brownian motion and electron hopping.

The invention relates to a method for producing a thermoelement for a thermoelectric component, in which method: with the aid of a plasma flame, a diffusion barrier made of nickel is applied to a thermoelectric active material; or, with the aid of a plasma flame, a contact-facilitating layer made of tin is applied to a diffusion barrier made of nickel. The invention also relates to a thermoelectric component comprising thermoelements which are produced correspondingly. The aim of the invention is to further develop the conventional plasma spraying technique such that it can be used to produce thermoelements on an industrial scale. To achieve this aim, nickel particles or tin particles are used, which particles conform to a particular specification with regard to their sphericity.

Disclosed are methods for the manufacture of n-type and p-type filled skutterudite thermoelectric legs of an electrical contact. A first material of CoSi.sub.2 and a dopant are ball-milled to form a first powder which is thermo-mechanically processed with a second powder of n-type skutterudite to form a n-type skutterudite layer disposed between a first layer and a third layer of the doped-CoSi.sub.2. In addition, a plurality of components such as iron, and nickel, and at least one of cobalt or chromium are ball-milled form a first powder that is thermo-mechanically processed with a p-type skutterudite layer to form a p-type skutterudite layer “second layer” disposed between a first and a third layer of the first powder. The specific contact resistance between the first layer and the skutterudite layer for both the n-type and the p-type skutterudites subsequent to hot-pressing is less than about 10.0 μΩ.Math.cm.sup.2.

The disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion structure and its use in heat dissipation device. The thermoelectric conversion structure includes a thermoelectric element, a first electrode and an electrically conductive heat-blocking layer. The thermoelectric element includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first electrode is located at the first end of the thermoelectric element. The electrically conductive heat-blocking layer is between the thermoelectric element and the first electrode.

The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric structure including a thermoelectric substrate and a barrier layer covering the thermoelectric substrate. A material of the barrier layer is metallic glass. The thermoelectric structure of the present disclosure may apply to a medium-temperature (about 400K to about 800K) thermoelectric module to effectively block the diffusion of the thermoelectric substrate.