Patent ID: 7449628

Claim:
An electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element for obtaining electric power from the element by applying a temperature difference in the thermoelectric power generation element, wherein the element comprises a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, the laminate having a structure in which a SrB 6 layer and a metal layer containing Cu, Ag, Au, or Al are laminated alternately, a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the SrB 6 layer being in a range of metal layer: SrB 6 layer=20:1 to 2.5:1, and lamination surfaces of the SrB 6 layer and the metal layer being inclined at an inclination angle θ of 20° to 50° with respect to a direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other, the method comprising applying a temperature difference in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode oppose each other in the element, so that electric power is obtained through the first and second electrodes.