Thermoelectric conversion element
11417818 · 2022-08-16
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B22F7/08
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B22F2998/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B22F2998/10
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B22F1/17
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B22F1/17
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
C22C1/051
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
H10N15/20
ELECTRICITY
H10N15/00
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to ensure a strength that allows thermoelectric evaluation to be performed even when sintering is carried out at a temperature lower than the minimum sintering temperature of a power generation layer, in a thermoelectric conversion element. For this purpose, this thermoelectric conversion element is characterized by being provided with a power generation layer and support layers including a sintered body, wherein the power generation layer is provided with a metal-magnetic insulator composite structure in which metal is formed in a net shape around a granulated magnetic body, the support layers are formed so as to be in contact with the top and bottom or the right and left of the power generation layer, and the minimum sintering temperature of the support layers is lower than the minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer.
Claims
1. A thermoelectric conversion element comprising a support layer including a power generation layer and a sintered body, wherein the power generation layer includes a metal-magnetic body composite structure in which a metal is formed in a net shape, around a granulated magnetic body, the support layer is formed in such a way as to be in contact with a top and a bottom or a left and a right of the power generation layer, and a minimum sintering temperature of the support layer is lower than a minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer.
2. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein the metal exists in a net shape in such a way as to fill a gap between a particle and a particle of the magnetic body.
3. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 2, wherein the support layer is disposed on four sides in such a way as to surround the power generation layer.
4. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic body has magnetism in an in-plane direction.
5. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 2, wherein the support layer is composed of an insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1Ωm.
6. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 2, wherein a melting point of a material constituting the supporting layer is equal to or more than 600° C. and equal to or less than 1,200° C.
7. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein the support layer is disposed on four sides in such a way as to surround the power generation layer.
8. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 7, wherein the magnetic body has magnetism in an in-plane direction.
9. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 7, wherein the support layer is composed of an insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1Ωm.
10. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 7, wherein a melting point of a material constituting the supporting layer is equal to or more than 600° C. and equal to or less than 1,200° C.
11. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic body has magnetism in an in-plane direction.
12. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 11, wherein the support layer is composed of an insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1Ωm.
13. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 11, wherein a melting point of a material constituting the supporting layer is equal to or more than 600° C. and equal to or less than 1,200° C.
14. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein the support layer is composed of an insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1Ωm.
15. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein a melting point of a material constituting the supporting layer is equal to or more than 600° C. and equal to or less than 1,200° C.
16. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 15, wherein a material constituting the support layer is Bi2O3.
17. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein the metal is composed of a ferromagnetic metal material having magnetism.
18. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 17, wherein the metal has a same magnetization direction as the magnetic body.
19. The thermoelectric conversion element according to claim 1, wherein a pair of electrodes are provided in the power generation layer.
20. A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion element, comprising: sandwiching a power generation layer powder formed by coating a periphery of a granulated magnetic body with a metal, between support layer powders of which a minimum sintering temperature is lower than a minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer powder; and press-molding and thereafter sintering.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT
(12) Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First Example Embodiment
(13)
(14) A power generation layer 1 is composed of a paramagnetic metal-magnetic insulator composite structure in which a paramagnetic metal 3 is formed in a net shape around a granulated magnetic body 2. In other words, the power generating layer 1 is an aggregation in which the granulated individual magnetic body 2 covered with the paramagnetic metal 3 gather in intimate contact with one another, wherein the adjacent paramagnetic metals connect to one another, and form a net shape.
(15) Further, in other words, particles of a magnetic insulator material are disposed in such a way as to be spaced from one another, and a paramagnetic metal material is extended in a net shape in such a way as to cover the particles and fill gaps among the particles. The paramagnetic metal 3 takes a three-dimensional network structure in a composite, entirely electrically connects between two ends of the power generation layer 1 without disconnection, and has conductivity. The paramagnetic metal 3 may not completely cover the periphery of the particles of the magnetic body 2. According to a manufacturing method or a manufacturing condition, there may be formed, for example, a location in which particles are in direct contact with each other and the paramagnetic metal 3 does not exist between the particles, a location being a space in which a metal is not charged in a gap between the particles, a location in which the thickness of the covering paramagnetic metal 3 is not uniform and is small, or the like. Even in such a case, as long as the paramagnetic metal 3 entirely connects between electrodes 5a and 5b, a current j.sub.ISHE flows. For example, it is considered that the current j.sub.ISHE flows when the paramagnetic metal 3 covers the periphery of the particles of the magnetic body 2 at a percentage equal to or more than 60%.
(16) This power generation layer 1 has a structure in which support layers 4a and 4b for enhancing the strength of the element are disposed on a top and a bottom of the power generation layer, that is, a first plane in a +z direction and a second plane in a −z direction of the figure, respectively.
(17) Herein, as the magnetic body 2, it is desirable to employ a low thermal conductive material enabling efficient retention of a temperature difference, and it is desirable to employ a magnetic insulator that does not have electric conductivity. As such a magnetic insulator, for example, an yttrium iron garnet (YIG), a (Ni, Zn, Fe).sub.3O.sub.4 ferrite, or the like can be employed. Herein, the magnetic body 2 has magnetism in the in-plane direction (the x direction of
(18) As the paramagnetic metal 3, it is desirable to employ Pt, W, Ta, Au, Pd, Ru, or Ir, of which spin orbit interaction is great or an alloy material including these metals.
(19) As the support layers 4a and 4b, it is desirable to employ a nonconductive insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1 Ωm, in order to take out the electromotive power generated in the power generation layer 1 to the outside in a lossless manner.
(20) Further, as a material constituting the support layers 4a and 4b, it is desirable that the melting point is lower than a melting point of the metal material or magnetic insulator material constituting the power generation layer, in terms of production which will be described later. The thermoelectric conversion element based on the spin Seebeck effect is expected to be practically used in a temperature range equal to or lower than the Curie temperature of the magnetic body 2, and in order that the support layers 4a and 4b are not melted in such a temperature range, it is preferable that the melting point of the material of the support layers 4a and 4b is higher than the Curie temperature of the magnetic body 2. Assuming that, for example, a ferrite material (Curie temperature: 300° C. to 400° C. and melting point: 1,200° C. to 1,700° C.) is employed as the magnetic body 2 and a transient metal material (melting point: 1,200° C. to 3,000° C.) such as Pt is employed as the paramagnetic metal 3, it is desirable that the melting point of the material constituting the support layers 4a and 4b is equal to or more than 400° C. and equal to and less than 1,200° C. Specifically, bismuth oxide Bi.sub.2O.sub.3, molybdenum oxide MoO.sub.3, germanium oxide GeO.sub.2, or the like is suitable as a material for the support layers 4a and 4b.
(21) Furthermore, the electrodes 5a and 5b for taking out the thermoelectromotive power generated in the y direction are provided on the left and right of the power generation layer 1, that is, on a third plane in a +y direction and a fourth plane in a −y direction of the figure. The electrodes 5a and 5b are composed of a metal material having conductivity. Although the electrodes 5a and 5b are intended to ensure electrical contact and stably take out the electromotive power, the electrodes are not required when the paramagnetic metal 3 is exposed on the surface of the power generation layer 1.
(22) When a temperature gradient (a temperature difference ΔT) in the perpendicular direction (the z direction of
(23) Herein, an element sintering temperature is set between a minimum sintering temperature of the support layer and a minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer. Thus, by employing a material with a low melting point (and a sintering temperature) as a support layer, the element can be integrally solidified at a high strength even by heat treatment at a low temperature that is lower than an essential sintering temperature of the power generation layer, and the strength that allows thermoelectric evaluation to be performed can be ensured.
Example 1
(24)
(25) In an experiment, firstly, a Pt/Bi:YIG powder formed by depositing Pt in a film thickness of 15 nm on a surface of a Bi:YIG powder of which the particle size is approximately 5 nm is prepared. The Pt/Bi:YIG powder is prepared as follows. A Bi:YIG sintered body is milled by employing a jet mill and thereafter heat treatment is carried out in an oxygen atmosphere. The milled sintered body after the heat treatment is put into a sample stage with a stirring device, and a platinum thin film is sputter-deposited on a surface of the milled sintered body by a magnetron sputtering device employing a platinum target.
(26) By employing the thus prepared Pt/Bi:YIG powder and a Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder of which the particle size is approximately 7.5 μm, these powders are laminated in three layers in sequential order of the Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder, the Pt/Bi:YIG powder, and the Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder, filled in a die, press-molded at 100 MPa, and thereafter sintered at 600° C. for 2 hours. A temperature of 800° C. or more is generally required for sintering a simplex of the Pt/Bi:YIG powder, and it is difficult to ensure the strength that allows thermoelectric evaluation to be performed at a lower temperature. However, herein it is verified that an element with a comparatively high strength can be produced even at 600° C. by sandwiching the Pt/Bi:YIG powder between the Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powders, which have a low sintering temperature, and then sintering.
(27)
(28) For the purpose of comparison,
(29) On the other hand, in the element in
(30)
(31) Other than the above-described method, the Pt/Bi:YIG powder can be produced by a sol-gel method. For example, the following method is appliable. A Bi:YIG powder is produced according to general procedures of the sol-gel method, and the produced powder is well dried and thereafter heat-treated in the atmosphere. The heat-treated powder is washed, and a platinum thin film is formed on a surface of the Bi:YIG powder by employing electroless plating.
Second Example Embodiment
(32) Next,
(33) A difference from the first example embodiment is that in the first example embodiment, the support layer 4 is disposed on the top and bottom of the power generation layer, whereas in the present example embodiment, as illustrated in
Example 2
(34)
(35) In an experiment, as in Example 1, a Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder of which the particle size is approximately 7.5 μm and a Pt/Bi:YIG powder of which the particle size is approximately 5 μm are employed, and these powders are first laminated in three layers and filled in a die and then press-molded at 100 Mpa. Then, the press-molded powders are temporarily taken out from the die and rotated 90 degrees, and the Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder is laminated on the top and bottom and press-molded again, thereby a structure in which the four sides of Pt/Bi:YIG are surrounded by the Bi.sub.2O.sub.3 powder are prepared. The element of
(36) From the subsequent characteristic evaluation, a sufficient strength and the electromotive power based on the spin Seebeck effect could be verified.
Third Example Embodiment
(37) Next,
(38) A power generation layer 1 is composed of a ferromagnetic metal-magnetic insulator composite structure in which a ferromagnetic metal 13 having magnetism is dispersed in a net shape around a granulated magnetic body 2. Further, as in the first example embodiment, the power generation layer 1 has a structure in which support layers 4a and 4b for enhancing the strength of the element and electrodes 5a and 5b that take out electromotive power are disposed.
(39) Herein, as in the first embodiment, an yttrium iron garnet (YIG), a (Ni, Zn, Fe).sub.3O.sub.4 ferrite, or the like may be employed as the magnetic body 2.
(40) As the ferromagnetic metal 13, it is desirable to employ Fe, Ni, Co, or an alloy material (such as FePt, NiPt, or CoPt) composed of these substances and Pt, W, Ta, Au, Pd, Ru, Ir, or the like of which spin orbit interaction is great.
(41) As the support layers 4a and 4b, as in the first example embodiment, it is desirable to employ a nonconductive insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1 Ωm. It is desirable that the ferromagnetic metal 13 has a same magnetization direction as the magnetic body 2.
(42) When a temperature gradient is applied to such an element, in addition to a current j.sub.ISHE exerted by the spin Seebeck effect and the inverse spin Hall effect, a current j.sub.ANE is further generated in the ferromagnetic metal 13 by the anomalous Nernst effect that is a similar thermoelectromotive effect occurring in the magnetic metal, and these currents are added and output (j.sub.out=j.sub.ISHE+j.sub.ANE). Therefore, it becomes possible to acquire a greater thermoelectromotive power in comparison with the element of the first example embodiment.
(43) In the present example embodiment, as in the second example embodiment, a support layer may be formed on four planes.
Example 3
(44)
(45) From the subsequent characteristic evaluation, a sufficient strength and the thermoelectromotive power based on the spin Seebeck effect and the anomalous Nernst effect could be verified.
(46) Although a magnetic insulator is employed as the magnetic body 2 in Examples 1 to 3, a magnetic material such as permalloy having conductivity, an iron alloy, or magnetite may be employed without limitation to such a magnetic insulator.
Fourth Example Embodiment
(47)
(48)
(49) The minimum sintering temperature of the support layer 94 is lower than the minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer 91 and thus the element can be integrally solidified at a high strength even by low temperature heat treatment of which sintering temperature is lower than an essential sintering temperature of the power generation layer, and a strength that allows thermoelectric evaluation to be performed can be ensured.
(50) Although a part or all of the above example embodiments can be described as in the following supplementary notes, the present invention is not limited to these supplementary notes.
(51) (Supplementary Note 1)
(52) A thermoelectric conversion element including a support layer including a power generation layer and a sintered body, wherein the power generation layer includes a metal-magnetic body composite structure in which a metal is formed in a net shape, around a sintered body of a granulated magnetic body, the support layer is formed in such a way as to be in contact with the top and bottom or the left and right of the power generation layer, and a minimum sintering temperature of the support layer is lower than a minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer.
(53) (Supplementary Note 2)
(54) The thermoelectric conversion element according to supplementary note 1, wherein the metal exists in a net shape in such a way as to fill a gap between a particle and a particle of the magnetic body.
(55) (Supplementary Note 3)
(56) The thermoelectric conversion element according to supplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the support layer is disposed on four sides in such a way as to surround the power generation layer.
(57) (Supplementary Note 4)
(58) The thermoelectric conversion element according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the magnetic body has magnetism in an in-plane direction.
(59) (Supplementary Note 5)
(60) The thermoelectric conversion element according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 4, wherein the support layer is composed of an insulator material or a semiconductor material of which resistivity is equal to or more than 1 Ωm.
(61) (Supplementary Note 6)
(62) The thermoelectric conversion element according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 5, wherein a melting point of a material constituting the supporting layer is equal to or more than 600° C. and equal to or less than 1,200° C.
(63) (Supplementary Note 7)
(64) The thermoelectric conversion element according to supplementary note 6, wherein a material constituting the support layer is Bi.sub.2O.sub.3.
(65) (Supplementary Note 8)
(66) The thermoelectric conversion element according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 7, wherein the metal is composed of a ferromagnetic metal material having magnetism.
(67) (Supplementary Note 9)
(68) The thermoelectric conversion element according to supplementary note 8, wherein the metal has a same magnetization direction as the magnetic body.
(69) (Supplementary Note 10)
(70) The thermoelectric conversion element according to any one of supplementary notes 1 to 9, wherein a pair of electrodes are provided in the power generation layer.
(71) (Supplementary Note 11)
(72) A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion element, including: sandwiching a power generation layer powder formed by coating a periphery of a granulated magnetic body with a metal, between support layer powders of which a minimum sintering temperature is lower than a minimum sintering temperature of the power generation layer powder; and press-molding and thereafter sintering.
(73) While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.
(74) This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2017-244458, filed on Dec. 20, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
(75) 1, 91 Power generation layer 2, 92 Magnetic body 3 Paramagnetic metal 4, 4a, 4b, 94 Support layer 5a, 5b Electrode 13 Ferromagnetic metal 93 Metal 101 Power generation layer powder 103 Granulated magnetic insulator 104 Support layer powder