| abstract |
Provided is a process for producing a thermoelectric conversion material which is configured of a metal (A) comprising an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, a transition metal (M), and oxygen (O) and which is represented by the general formula AxMyOz wherein x, y, and z are integers governed by the valences of the respective elements, the process comprising using a massive metal oxide (10) which is a solid starting material for the thermoelectric conversion material and a salt (11) in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state to react the massive metal oxide (10) with the salt (11) through diffusion reaction, thereby yielding the thermoelectric conversion material which is configured of oriented crystals. Also provided is a production apparatus (13) for use in the production process, the apparatus including a reaction vessel (14) into which the massive metal oxide (10) and the salt (11) are introduced and a heating means which heats the massive metal oxide (10) and the salt (11) within the reaction vessel (14) to cause the diffusion reaction to proceed. With the process, it is possible to produce a polycrystalline thermoelectric conversion material at a lower cost and more easily than single-crystal thermoelectric conversion materials and to approximate the performance of the polycrystalline material to that of the single-crystal materials. |