Thermoelectric conversion module and method for manufacturing the same

A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion module that includes a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor, an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor, and a laminate including a plurality of insulating layers which are electrically insulative and which are stacked, the laminate having at least one first accommodation hole accommodating the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor, at least one second accommodation hole accommodating the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor, and a p-n connection conductor which electrically connects the p-type and n-type thermoelectric semiconductors to each other in series such that the p-type and n-type thermoelectric semiconductors define a thermoelectric conversion element pair, the first accommodation hole being defined by a plurality of first perforations which are communicatively connected to each other and which extend through the insulating layers in the thickness direction of the insulating layers, the second accommodation hole being defined by a plurality of second perforations which are communicatively connected to each other and which extend through the insulating layers in the thickness direction of the insulating layers, the method comprising:

• a step of preparing a plurality of insulating sheets for forming the insulating layers;
• a step of preparing a p-type thermoelectric semiconductor material for forming the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and an n-type thermoelectric semiconductor material for forming the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor;
• a step of forming the first and second perforations in the insulating sheets;
• a step of packing the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor material and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor material into the first perforation and the second perforation, respectively;
• a step of forming the p-n connection conductor on specific one of the insulating sheets;
• and
• a step of stacking the insulating sheets such that the laminate is obtained;
• wherein
• the step of preparing the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor material and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor material includes a sub-step of preparing different types of thermoelectric semiconductor components for producing at least one of the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor material and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor material such that at least one of the p-type thermoelectric semiconductor and the n-type thermoelectric semiconductor includes a plurality of portions in which peak temperatures of thermoelectric figures of merit are different from each other;
• the packing step includes a sub-step of packing the different types of thermoelectric semiconductor components into the first and second perforations of the insulating sheets;
• and
• the stacking step includes a sub-step of stacking the insulating sheets including the first and second perforations filled with the different types of thermoelectric semiconductor components such that the insulating sheets are arranged in the laminate in a mixed manner.