Abstract: A terahertz electromagnetic wave generator according to the present disclosure includes: a thermoelectric material layer; a metal layer which partially covers the surface of the thermoelectric material layer; and a light source system which is configured to irradiate both a surface region of the thermoelectric material layer that is not covered with the metal layer and an edge of the metal layer with pulsed light, thereby generating a terahertz wave from the thermoelectric material layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tubular thermoelectric generation device, comprising: a plurality of plate-like p-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of plate-like n-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of external electrodes; and a plurality of internal electrodes. Each of the plurality of the external electrodes comprises an internal flange expanded in a direction from the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member. Each of the plurality of the internal electrodes comprises an external flange expanded in a direction from the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material expressed by a chemical formula X3T3-yT?ySb4 (0.025?y?0.5), wherein the X includes one or more elements selected from Zr and Hf, the T includes one or more elements selected from Ni, Pd, and Pt, while including at least Ni, and the T? includes one or more elements selected from Co, Rh, and Ir.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generation unit according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of thermoelectric generation tubes. Each tube has a flow path defined by its inner peripheral surface, and generates an electromotive force in an axial direction based on a temperature difference between its inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface. The thermoelectric generation unit includes a container housing the tubes inside, and a plurality of electrically conductive members providing electrical interconnection for the tubes. The container includes a shell surrounding the tubes and a pair of plates being fixed to the shell and having a plurality of openings, with channels being formed so as to house the electrically conductive members and interconnect at least two of the openings. The respective ends of the tubes are inserted in the openings of the plates. The tubes are connected electrically in series by the electrically conductive members housed in the channels.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generation unit according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of thermoelectric generation tubes. Each thermoelectric generation tube generates an electromotive force in an axial direction based on a temperature difference between its inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface. The thermoelectric generation unit includes a container housing the plurality of thermoelectric generation tubes inside, a plurality of electrically conductive members providing electrical interconnection for the plurality of thermoelectric generation tubes, and a plurality of electrically conductive ring members each receiving an end of a thermoelectric generation tube so as to be in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the thermoelectric generation tube. Each electrically conductive ring member electrically connects the thermoelectric generation tube to a corresponding electrically conductive member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thermoelectric conversion material expressed by a chemical formula X3T3Z4 (X comprises one or more elements selected from Zr, Hf, Y, La, Nb, and Ta, while including at least Zr or Hf; T comprises one or more elements selected from Ni, Co, Cu, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt, while including at least Ni; Z comprises one or more elements selected from Sb, Ge, and Sn, while including at least Sb), the method comprising: preparing materials containing elements, which are the X including selected elements, the T including selected elements, and the Z including selected elements; forming an alloy A by melting the materials containing the all selected elements except for Sb; and forming an alloy B by melting the alloy A and the material containing Sb.

Abstract: The thermoelectric generator disclosed herein includes: a first and second electrode opposing each other; and a stacked body having a first and second principal face and a first and second end face, the first and second end face being located between the first and second principal face, and the first and second electrode being respectively electrically connected to the first and second end face. The stacked body is structured so that a plurality of first layers of a first material having a relatively low Seebeck coefficient and a relatively high thermal conductivity and a plurality of second layers of a second material having a relatively high Seebeck coefficient and a relatively low thermal conductivity are alternately stacked. The stacked body includes a carbon containing layer in at least one of the first and second principal face.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing an alcohol using a device for reducing carbon dioxide by light energy. In this device, a cathode electrode includes copper or a copper compound, and an anode electrode includes a region including a nitride semiconductor layer in which an AlxGa1-xN layer (0<x?1) and a GaN layer are laminated. A first electrolytic solution consisting of an aqueous potassium chloride solution (aqueous KCl solution) is contained in a cathode chamber in which the cathode electrode is placed. A second electrolytic solution including an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (aqueous NaOH solution) is contained in an anode chamber in which the anode electrode is placed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tubular thermoelectric generation device, comprising: a plurality of plate-like p-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of plate-like n-type thermoelectric members each having an external periphery, a through hole, and an internal periphery formed around the through hole; a plurality of external electrodes; and a plurality of internal electrodes. Each of the plurality of the external electrodes comprises an internal flange expanded in a direction from the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member. Each of the plurality of the internal electrodes comprises an external flange expanded in a direction from the internal periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member toward the external periphery of the p-type thermoelectric member.

Abstract: An n-type thermoelectric conversion material expressed in a chemical formula X3-xX?xT3-yCuySb4 (0?x<3, 0?y<3.0, and x+y>0), the X includes one or more element(s) of Zr and Hf, the X? includes one or more element(s) of Nb and Ta, and the T includes one or more element(s) selected from Ni, Pd, and Pt, while including at least Ni, the n-type thermoelectric conversion material expressed in the chemical formula X3-xX?xT3-yCuySb4 has symmetry of a cubic crystal belonging to a space group I-43d.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation system of the present disclosure includes first and second thermoelectric power generation units. Each of the thermoelectric power generation units includes a plurality of tubular thermoelectric generators. The thermoelectric power generation units comprises a vessel in which the tubular thermoelectric generator is accommodated and a breakdown determination unit. The vessel includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an opening. The fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are used to cause a fluid to flow in the vessel. The tubular thermoelectric generator is inserted in the opening. The breakdown determination unit that determines whether the thermal power generation unit breaks down based on power generation efficiency that is obtained using a temperature difference between the fluid inflowing from the fluid inlet and the fluid discharging from the fluid outlet and the electromotive force generated by the tubular thermoelectric generator.

Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation system of the present disclosure includes first and second thermoelectric power generation units. Each of the thermoelectric power generation units includes a plurality of tubular thermoelectric generators. The first and second thermoelectric power generation units are electrically connected to each other such that a first impedance caused by the tubular thermoelectric generator included in the first thermoelectric power generation unit is matched with a second impedance caused by the tubular thermoelectric generator included in the second thermoelectric power generation unit.

Abstract: A device for reducing CO2 by light, including: a cathode chamber holding a first electrolyte solution that contains CO2; an anode chamber holding a second electrolyte solution; a proton conducting membrane disposed in a connecting portion between these chambers; a cathode electrode; and an anode electrode. The cathode electrode has a CO2 reduction reaction region composed of a metal or a metal compound, and the anode electrode has a photochemical reaction region composed of nitride semiconductors. The photochemical reaction region of the anode electrode has a multilayer structure of a GaN layer and an AlxGa1-xN layer containing Mg (0<x?0.25). The content of Mg in the AlxGa1-xN layer is 1×1015 or more and 1×1019 or less in terms of the number of Mg atom per cm3. The anode electrode is disposed in such a manner that the AlxGa1-xN layer can be exposed to light.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator system according to the present disclosure includes first and second thermoelectric generator units, each including tubular thermoelectric generators. Each of the generators has a flow path defined by its inner peripheral surface, and generates electromotive force in an axial direction thereof based on a temperature difference between its inner and outer peripheral surfaces. Each unit further includes: a container housing the generators inside; and electrically conductive members providing electrical interconnection for the generators. The container has fluid inlet and outlet ports through which a fluid flows inside, and openings into which the generators are inserted. A buffer vessel is arranged between the first and second units, and has a first opening communicating with the flow paths of the generators in the first unit and a second opening communicating with the flow paths of the generators in the second unit.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator unit according to this disclosure includes a plurality of tubular thermoelectric generators, each of which generates electromotive force based on a difference in temperature between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The unit further includes a plurality of electrically conductive members providing electrical connection for the generators and a container housing the generators inside. The container includes a shell surrounding the generators and a pair of plates, at least one of which has a plurality of openings and channels. Each channel houses an electrically conductive member. The generators are electrically connected together in series via the electrically conductive member. At least one of the channels has an interconnection which connects at least two of the openings together and a testing hole portion. The testing hole portion runs from the interconnection through an outer edge of the at least one plate.

Abstract: An exemplary thermoelectric generator unit according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of tubular thermoelectric generators. Each generator generates electromotive force in an axial direction based on a difference in temperature between its inner and outer peripheral surfaces. The unit further includes a container housing the generators inside and a plurality of electrically conductive members providing electrical interconnection among the generators. The container has fluid inlet and outlet ports through which a fluid flows inside the container, and a plurality of openings into which the respective generators are inserted. In one implementation, the unit includes a baffle, which is provided between the fluid inlet port and the generators and changes the flow direction of the fluid that has flowed into the container through the fluid inlet port.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a light concentrating device for a photochemical reaction device capable of decreasing abnormal chemical reactions that occur when intensity of sunlight is too strong for an electrode of a photochemical reaction device. The light concentrating device includes a lens for concentrating sunlight on the electrode of the photochemical reaction device, a lens movement device for moving the lens in an optical axis direction, an image pickup device for picking up an image of transmitted sunlight that passes through the electrode, an abnormal chemical reaction detector for detecting presence of an abnormal chemical reaction on the electrode based on information on the image picked up by the image pickup device, and a lens position controller for controlling the lens movement device to move the lens to decrease occurrence of the abnormal chemical reaction when the abnormal chemical reaction detector detects the abnormal chemical reaction.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator system according to this disclosure includes a thermoelectric generator unit which performs thermoelectric generation using first and second heat transfer media at different temperatures. The unit includes a tubular thermoelectric generator which generates electromotive force in its axial direction based on a temperature difference between its inner and outer surfaces. The generator system further includes a flow rate control system which controls the flow rate of at least one of the first heat transfer medium flowing through a flow path defined by the inner surface and the second heat transfer medium in contact with the outer surface by reference to either information about an operation condition of the generator system or a preset target power output level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a formic acid generation apparatus for generating formic acid by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a cathode container for storing a first electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide; an anode container for storing a second electrolyte solution; a solid electrolyte membrane sandwiched between the cathode container and the anode container; a cathode electrode provided in the cathode container so as to be in contact with the first electrolyte solution, the cathode electrode having a gallium oxide region on a surface thereof; an anode electrode provided in the anode container so as to be in contact with the second electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a negative voltage and a positive voltage to the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methanol generation device for generating methanol by reducing carbon dioxide, comprising: a container for storing an electrolyte solution containing carbon dioxide; a cathode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; an anode electrode disposed in the container so as to be in contact with the electrolyte solution; and an external power supply for applying a voltage so that a potential of the cathode electrode is negative with respect to a potential of the anode electrode. The cathode electrode has a region of Cu1-x-yNixAuy (0<x, 0<y, and x+y<1). The anode electrode has a region of a metal or a metal compound.