JP2510158B

PURPOSE:To obtain a thermoelectric element having desirable characteristics as well as high mechanical strength, by grinding crystals so as to keep their cleavage properties for producing flake particles, pressurizing them uniaxially to produce an anisotropic sintered powder body and causing electric current to flow through the body vertically to the direction of pressurization. CONSTITUTION:Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3 are sealed in a glass tube in a ratio of 95:5. They are melt and solidified unidirectionally, whereby single crystals having aligned crystal axes can be obtained. The crystals are ground and sorted to form flake powder having a particle diameter of 74-37mum. The powder is pressurized uniaxially under 350 kg/cm2 in the atmosphere of Ar at 500 deg.C for ten minutes. The pressed powder body is cut off and current is caused to flow through the body vertically to the direction of pressurization (k) to achieve an N-type thermoelectric element having improved mechanical strength and improved electric characteristics.