Patent ID: 6759586
Filing Date: 2004-07-06
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A thermoelectric module, comprising:a plurality of p-type thermoelectric elements each comprising a p-type semiconductor having a skutterdite crystal structure, each of said p-type thermoelectric elements having a first surface having a high temperature and a second surface having a temperature lower than that of said first surface; a plurality of n-type thermoelectric elements each comprising a n-type semiconductor having a skutterdite crystal structure, each of said n-type thermoelectric elements having a first surface having a high temperature and a second surface having a temperature lower than that of said first surface, and said p-type thermoelectric elements and said n-type thermoelectric elements being arranged alternately; at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode connecting said p-type thermoelectric elements and said n-type thermoelectric elements in series; at least one first alloy layer for bonding said at least one first electrode to said first surface of said one p-type thermoelectric element and to said first surface of said one n-type thermoelectric element adjacent to said one p-type thermoelectric element; and at least one second alloy layer for bonding said at least one second electrode to said second surface of said one p-type thermoelectric element and to said second surface of said one n-type thermoelectric element adjacent to said one p-type thermoelectric element, wherein said at least one first alloy layer and said at least one second alloy layer contain Sb and at least one transition metal element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au and Cu.