Compound semiconductor and its manufacturing method, and thermoelectric conversion device using the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a new compound semiconductor represented by the chemical formula: Bi1-x-yLnxMyCuOTe where Ln belongs to the lanthanoid series and is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, M is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Cd, Hg, Sn, Pb, Mn, Ga, In, Tl, As and Sb, and 0<x<1, 0≦y≦1 and 0<x+y<1. The compound semiconductor can replace a conventional compound semiconductor or be used as a thermoelectric conversion device together with a conventional compound semiconductor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.