Power generation element, power generation device, electronic apparatus, and method for manufacturing power generation element

A power generation device comprising

• a power generation element that converts a thermal energy into an electric energy, wherein
• the power generation element includes:
• a first housing portion including a first substrate and a first electrode portion, the first substrate including a first principal surface, and the first electrode portion being provided on the first principal surface;
• a second housing portion including a second substrate and a second electrode portion, the second substrate including a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface in a first direction, and the second electrode portion being provided on the second principal surface, being separated from the first electrode portion, and having a work function different from a work function of the first electrode portion;
• and
• an intermediate portion provided between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, the intermediate portion including nanoparticles having a work function between the work function of the first electrode portion and the work function of the second electrode portion, wherein
• the first principal surface includes:
• a first separated surface that is in contact with the first electrode portion and separated from the second housing portion;
• and
• a first joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the first separated surface, separated from the first electrode portion, and in contact with the second housing portion,
• the second principal surface includes:
• a second separated surface that is in contact with the second electrode portion and separated from the first housing portion;
• and
• a second joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the second separated surface, separated from the second electrode portion, and in contact with the first housing portion, and
• the intermediate portion is surrounded by the first joint surface and the second joint surface viewed in the first direction.

An electronic apparatus comprising:

• a power generation element that converts a thermal energy into an electric energy;
• and
• an electronic part configured to be driven using the power generation element as a power supply, wherein
• the power generation element includes:
• a first housing portion including a first substrate and a first electrode portion, the first substrate including a first principal surface, and the first electrode portion being provided on the first principal surface;
• a second housing portion including a second substrate and a second electrode portion, the second substrate including a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface in a first direction, and the second electrode portion being provided on the second principal surface, being separated from the first electrode portion, and having a work function different from a work function of the first electrode portion;
• and
• an intermediate portion provided between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, the intermediate portion including nanoparticles having a work function between the work function of the first electrode portion and the work function of the second electrode portion, wherein
• the first principal surface includes:
• a first separated surface that is in contact with the first electrode portion and separated from the second housing portion;
• and
• a first joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the first separated surface, separated from the first electrode portion, and in contact with the second housing portion,
• the second principal surface includes:
• a second separated surface that is in contact with the second electrode portion and separated from the first housing portion;
• and
• a second joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the second separated surface, separated from the second electrode portion, and in contact with the first housing portion, and
• the intermediate portion is surrounded by the first joint surface and the second joint surface viewed in the first direction.

A method for manufacturing a power generation element that converts a thermal energy into an electric energy, the method comprising:

• a first housing portion formation step of forming a first electrode portion on a first principal surface of a first substrate to form a first housing portion;
• a second housing portion formation step of forming a second electrode portion on a second principal surface of a second substrate to form a second housing portion, the second electrode portion having a work function different from a work function of the first electrode portion;
• an intermediate portion formation step of forming an intermediate portion including nanoparticles on the first electrode portion, the nanoparticles having a work function between the work function of the first electrode portion and the work function of the second electrode portion;
• and
• a joining step of joining the first housing portion and the second housing portion in a state where the first electrode portion is separated from the second electrode portion in a first direction, wherein
• the first principal surface includes:
• a first separated surface that is in contact with the first electrode portion and separated from the second housing portion;
• and
• a first joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the first separated surface, separated from the first electrode portion, and in contact with the second housing portion,
• the second principal surface includes:
• a second separated surface that is in contact with the second electrode portion and separated from the first housing portion;
• and
• a second joint surface that is provided to be continuous with the second separated surface, separated from the second electrode portion, and in contact with the first housing portion, and
• the intermediate portion is surrounded by the first joint surface and the second joint surface viewed in the first direction.