To provide a thermoelectric conversion material and a thermoelectric conver sion element using it where the synergetic effect of a Seebeck effect and a Nernst effect is utilized while the Seebeck coefficient is high, for improved thermoelectromotive force.
An n-type thermoelectric conversion material 5 and a p-type thermoelectric conversion material 4 comprise a compound material of an alloy powder for a rare earth magnet and a rectangular-parallelopiped Bi group thermoelectric conversion material, to constitute a p-type semiconductor or n-type semiconductor containing a prescribed additional element. These materials are alternately provided through a material whose thermal conductivity is low but electric resistivity is high such as a glass plate 6. The low-temperature sides of the thermoelectric conversion materials are connected together with a wire 7 while the high-temperature sides of them are connected together with a wire 8. A magnetic field is applied in a prescribed direction (x-axis direction) for magnetization, with a temperature gradient nabla T in a direction (z-axis direction) orthogonal to the magnetization direction. A thermoelectromotive force is induced from a connection end, with pn junction on a plane in a direction (y-axis direction) orthogonal to the directions, so a Seebeck coefficient is significantly improved with no magnetic field applied from outside.