Abstract: There is provided a thermoelectric material including a compound which is formed of an element R belonging to alkaline earth metal and lanthanoid, and an element X belonging to any of Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, and Group 15 elements. The composition ratio of the element R and the element X is selected to obtain the compound having an AlB2 type structure.

Abstract: There is provided a thermoelectric material including a compound which is formed of an element R belonging to alkaline earth metal and lanthanoid, and an element X belonging to any of Group 13 elements, Group 14 elements, and Group 15 elements. The composition ratio of the element R and the element X is selected to obtain the compound having an AlB2 type structure.

Abstract: Provided herein is a skutterudite-type material having high thermoelectric conversion characteristics in a high temperature region. A thermoelectric conversion material is provided that contains a skutterudite-type material represented by the following composition formula (I) IxGayM4Pn12??(I), wherein x and y satisfy 0.04?x?0.11, 0.11?y?0.34, and x<y, I represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba, and Sr, M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Os, and Pn represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se, and Si.

Abstract: Provided herein is a skutterudite-type material having high thermoelectric conversion characteristics in a high temperature region. A thermoelectric conversion material is provided that contains a skutterudite-type material represented by the following composition formula (I) IxGayM4Pn12 ??(I), wherein x and y satisfy 0.04?x?0.11, 0.11?y?0.34, and x<y, I represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba, and Sr, M represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Os, and Pn. represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se, and Si.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing directly a desired nano-structure of oxide without electrolyzing the target oxide, a nano-structure having structural resistance and various useful uses of the nano-structure. Into a solution containing a fluoride complex ion comprising metal element of the target oxide in which the metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements, group IA elements, group IIA elements, group IIIB elements, group IVB elements, group VB elements and group VIB elements, a template having nano-structure made from oxide is immersed, and the reaction condition is adjusted to substitute oxide of the template with the target oxide.