THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION MATERIAL AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE

Abstract

A thermoelectric conversion material capable of increasing the conductivity, and increasing the Seebeck coefficient is provided. The thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention contains a carbon nanotube, and has a G/D ratio of 25 or more as determined by Raman spectroscopic measurement, an electrical conductivity of 500 S/cm or more, and a Seebeck coefficient of 50 V/K or more.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric conversion material, comprising a carbon nanotube, and having a G/D ratio of 25 or more as determined by Raman spectroscopic measurement, an electrical conductivity of 500 S/cm or more, and a Seebeck coefficient of 50 V/K or more.

2. The thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric conversion material is a thermoelectric conversion material in a sheet shape.

3. The thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 1, wherein a content of the carbon nanotube is 70% by weight or more.

4. A thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: the thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 1, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material at a position distant from the first electrode.

5. The thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 2, wherein a content of the carbon nanotube is 70% by weight or more.

6. A thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: the thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 2, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material at a position distant: from the first electrode.

7. A thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: the thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 3, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material at a position distant from the first electrode.

8. A thermoelectric conversion device, comprising: the thermoelectric conversion material according to claim 5, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material at a position distant from the first electrode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric conversion device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the electrical conductivities of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the Seebeck coefficients of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the power factors of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the electrical conductivities of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2.

[0019] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the Seebeck coefficients of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2.

[0020] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the power factors of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2.

MODE (S) FOR YING OUT THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

[0022] The thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention contains a carbon nanotube. The G/D ratio of the thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention as determined by Raman spectroscopic measurement is 25 or more. The Raman spectroscopic measurement in the present invention is the Raman spectroscopic measurement using light having a wavelength of 532 nm.

[0023] The electrical conductivity of the thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention is 500 S/cm or more. The Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention is 50 V/K or more.

[0024] It is considered that there is a tendency that in a dispersion liquid of a composition of a thermoelectric conversion material, the more uniformly the composition is dispersed, the higher the conductivity of the thermoelectric conversion material to be obtained is. However, as a result of the study by the present inventors, it has been found that if the dispersibility of the composition is increased in order to increase the conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient may be largely lowered in some cases. As described above, in the conventional thermoelectric conversion material, it is difficult to achieve both of the high conductivity and the high Seebeck coefficient.

[0025] Therefore, the present inventors have found that when the G/D ratio of the thermoelectric conversion material is high, the decrease of the Seebeck coefficient is suppressed, and further the conductivity of the thermoelectric conversion material becomes high.

[0026] In the present invention, the G/D ratio of the thermoelectric conversion material is 25 or more, therefore, the conductivity can be increased, and further the Seebeck coefficient can also be increased.

[0027] From the viewpoint of further increasing the conductivity and further Seebeck coefficient of the thermoelectric conversion material, the G/D ratio is more preferably 30 or more, and furthermore preferably 40 or more.

[0028] The above-described thermoelectric conversion material is preferably in a sheet shape. The thermoelectric conversion material in a sheet shape may be folded and used. The above-described thermoelectric conversion material may also be in the form of a nonwoven fabric.

[0029] From the viewpoint of effectively increasing the conductivity of the thermoelectric conversion material, the content of the carbon nanotube is preferably 70% by weight or more, more preferably 80% by weight or more, and furthermore preferably 90% by weight or more, and is preferably 100% by weight or less.

[0030] From the viewpoint of increasing the thermal electromotive force of the thermoelectric conversion material, the carbon nanotube is preferably a single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT).

[0031] The thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention contains the thermoelectric conversion material, a first electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material, and a second electrode disposed on a surface of the thermoelectric conversion material at a position distant from the first electrode.

[0032] In the thermoelectric conversion device according to the present invention, since the constitution described above is provided, the conductivity can be increased, and further the Seebeck coefficient can also be increased.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric conversion device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Note that the drawing referred in the embodiments is schematically described, the ratio of the dimensions, and the like of an object drawn in the drawing may be different from the ratio of the dimensions, and the like of the actual object. The specific ratio of the dimensions, and the like of an object should be determined by taking into consideration the following description.

[0035] A thermoelectric conversion device 10 shown in FIG. 1 contains a thermoelectric conversion material 1 in a sheet shape, a first electrode 2a disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion material 1, and a second electrode 2b disposed on the other side opposite to the one side in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion material 1. The second electrode 2b is separated from the first electrode 2a.

[0036] One thermoelectric conversion element is constituted of one first electrode 2a, one thermoelectric conversion material 1, and one second electrode 2b.

[0037] On the side opposite to the side of the thermoelectric conversion material 1 of the first electrode 2a, a first substrate 3a is provided. On the side opposite to the side of the thermoelectric conversion material 1 of the second electrode 2b, a second substrate 3b is provided. The material for the first and second substrates 3a and 3b is a resin material such as polyimide, an appropriate ceramic material, or the like.

[0038] Note that in the thermoelectric conversion device, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials may be laminated and used. The thermoelectric conversion device may contain multiple thermoelectric conversion elements.

[0039] In the thermoelectric conversion device 10 shown in FIG. 1, a first electrode 2a is disposed on one side in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion material 1, and a second electrode 2b is disposed on the other side opposite to the one side in the thickness direction of the thermoelectric conversion material 1. Note that the disposition of the first electrode 2a and the second electrode 2b is not limited to the disposition described above, and can be appropriately changed.

[0040] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail on the basis of specific examples.

EXAMPLE 1

[0041] Preparation of Thermoelectric Conversion Material:

[0042] In 100 mL of o-dichlorobenzene, 25 mg of SWCNT was placed, and the resultant mixture was stirred using a magnetic stirrer. After that, using a high-pressure type homogenizer, dispersion treatment was performed at a pressure of 40 MPa, and a SWCNT dispersion liquid was obtained. The obtained SWCNT dispersion liquid was subjected to vacuum filtration using a membrane filter having a pore diameter of 0.2 m, and a SWCNT deposition was obtained. By drying the obtained SWCNT deposition, a thermoelectric conversion material in a sheet shape was obtained.

[0043] By the method described above, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials were obtained. Note that each thermoelectric conversion material was prepared by varying the number of times to repeat the dispersion treatment (the number of repetitive processes) in the range of 3 to 10 times.

[0044] Measurement of G/D Ratio:

[0045] Using laser light with a wavelength of 532 nm, Raman spectroscopic measurement of the thermoelectric conversion material was performed, and the peak area in the G band due to the benzene ring in the Raman spectrum was determined. The peak area in the D band due to the defects and the like of the benzene ring in the Raman spectrum was determined. Note that the G band is a band located in the vicinity of 1350 cm.sup.1, and the D band is a band located in the vicinity of 1589 cm.sup.1. The G/D ratio was determined from the ratio of the peak area in the G band to the peak area in the D band.

[0046] By the method described above, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials having a G/D ratio of 25 or more and 45 or less were prepared.

EXAMPLE 2

[0047] Preparation of Thermoelectric Conversion Material:

[0048] In 100 mL of o-dichlorobenzene, 25 mg of SWCNT was placed, and the resultant mixture was stirred using a magnetic stirrer. After that, dispersion treatment was performed with a centrifugal disc mixer manufactured by SINTOKOGIO, LTD., and a SWCNT dispersion liquid was obtained. The obtained SWCNT dispersion liquid was subjected to vacuum filtration using a membrane filter having a pore diameter of 0.2 m, and a SWCNT deposition was obtained. By drying the obtained SWCNT deposition, a thermoelectric conversion material in a sheet shape was obtained.

[0049] By the method described above, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials were obtained. Note that each thermoelectric conversion material was prepared by varying the number of times to repeat the dispersion treatment (the number of repetitive processes) in the range of 1 to 5 times.

[0050] Measurement of G/D Ratio:

[0051] Using laser light with a wavelength of 532 nm, Raman spectroscopic measurement of the thermoelectric conversion material was performed, and the peak area in the G band due to the benzene ring in the Raman spectrum was determined. The peak area in the D band due to the defects and the like of the benzene ring in the Raman spectrum was determined. Note that the G band is a band located in the vicinity of 1350 cm.sup.1, and the D band is a band located in the vicinity of 1589 cm.sup.1. The G/D ratio was determined from the ratio of the peak area in the G band to the peak area in the D band.

[0052] By the method described above, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials having a G/D ratio of 26 or more and 48 or less were prepared.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

[0053] Multiple thermoelectric conversion materials were prepared in the similar manner as in Example 1 except that the range of the number of repetitive processes of the dispersion treatment in the process of obtaining a SWCNT dispersion liquid was changed to the range of 20 to 50 times. In Comparative Example 1, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials having a G/D ratio of less than 25 were prepared.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

[0054] Multiple thermoelectric conversion materials were prepared in the similar manner as in Example 2 except that the range of the number of repetitive processes of the dispersion treatment in the process of obtaining a SWCNT dispersion liquid was changed to the range of 7 to 9 times. In Comparative Example 2, multiple thermoelectric conversion materials having a G/D ratio of less than 25 were prepared.

[0055] Electrical conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, and power factors of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were measured.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the electrical conductivities of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the Seebeck coefficients of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the power factors of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. In FIGS. 2 to 4, the circular plots show the results of Example 1, and the triangular plots show the results of Comparative Example 1.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the electrical conductivities of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the Seebeck coefficients of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2. FIG. 7 is a drawing showing the power factors of the thermoelectric conversion materials of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2. In FIGS. 5 to 7, the square plots show the results of Example 2, and the X-shaped plots show the results of Comparative Example 2.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in Example 1, the conductivity can be more increased and further the Seebeck coefficient can also be more increased as compared with Comparative Example 1. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in Example 2, the conductivity can be more increased and further the Seebeck coefficient can also be more increased as compared with Comparative Example 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the power factor of Example 1 is 150 W/mK.sup.2 or more, and is higher than the power factor of Comparative Example 1. As shown in FIG. 7 the power factor of Example 2 is 150 W/mK.sup.2 or more, and is higher than the power factor of Comparative Example 2,

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

[0059] 1: Thermoelectric conversion material [0060] 2a, and 2b: First, and second electrodes [0061] 3a, and 3b: First, and second substrates [0062] 10: Thermoelectric conversion device