Abstract: The present invention provides radiation detectors with high detection sensitivity. The radiation detectors according to the present invention each include an Al2O3 substrate, a CaxCoO2 (where 0.15<x<0.55) thin film that is layered on the Al2O3 substrate and that has CoO2 planes that are aligned inclined to the surface of the Al2O3 substrate, a first electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film, and a second electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film in a position opposed to the first electrode in the direction in which the CoO2 planes are aligned inclined. The surface of the Al2O3 substrate is an n plane or an S plane.

Abstract: A radiation detector with high detection sensitivity. The radiation detector according to the present invention includes an Al2O3 substrate, a Fe2O3 thin film layered on the Al2O3 substrate, a CaxCoO2 (where 0.15<x<0.55) thin film that is layered on the Fe2O3 thin film and that has CoO2 planes that are aligned inclined to the surface of the Al2O3 substrate, a first electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film, and a second electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film in a position opposed to the first electrode in the direction in which the CoO2 planes are aligned inclined.

Abstract: The thermoelectric device of the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to be opposed to each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, is connected electrically to both the first electrode and the second electrode, and is layered in the direction orthogonal to an electromotive-force extracting direction, which is the direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material composed of an oxide material represented by chemical formula A0.8-1.2Ta2O6-y, where A is calcium (Ca) alone or calcium (Ca) and at least one selected from magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), and barium (Ba), and y is larger than 0 but does not exceed 0.5 (0<y?0.5).

Abstract: The present invention provides radiation detectors with high detection sensitivity. The radiation detectors according to the present invention each include an Al2O3 substrate, a CaxCoO2 (where 0.15<x<0.55) thin film that is layered on the Al2O3 substrate and that has CoO2 planes that are aligned inclined to the surface of the Al2O3 substrate, a first electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film, and a second electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film in a position opposed to the first electrode in the direction in which the CoO2 planes are aligned inclined. The surface of the Al2O3 substrate is an n plane or an S plane.

Abstract: The present invention provides thermoelectric elements, each of which can transfer heat efficiently to a heat source with a curved surface, such as a columnar heat source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation detector with high detection sensitivity. The radiation detector according to the present invention includes an Al2O3 substrate, a Fe2O3 thin film layered on the Al2O3 substrate, a CaxCoO2 (where 0.15<×<0.55) thin film that is layered on the Fe2O3 thin film and that has CoO2 planes that are aligned inclined to the surface of the Al2O3 substrate, a first electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film, and a second electrode disposed on the CaxCoO2 thin film in a position opposed to the first electrode in the direction in which the CoO2 planes are aligned inclined.

Abstract: The thermoelectric device of the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to be opposed to each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, is connected electrically to both the first electrode and the second electrode, and is layered in the direction orthogonal to an electromotive-force extracting direction, which is the direction in which the first electrode and the second electrode are opposed to each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a power generation method using a thermoelectric element, a thermoelectric element, and a thermoelectric device that excel in thermoelectric performance and are applicable to a wider range of applications over conventional counterparts. The element includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate interposed between the first and second electrodes and electrically connected to both of the electrodes. The laminate has a structure in which a Bi layer and a metal layer made of a metal other than Bi are alternately layered, and the Bi layer and the metal layer having layer surfaces that are slanted with respect to a direction in which the first and second electrodes oppose each other. The element generates a potential difference between the electrodes by a temperature difference created along a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second electrodes in the element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element, a thermoelectric power generation element, and a thermoelectric power generation device, each of which has higher thermoelectric power generation performance than conventional ones and can be used for more applications.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a variable-resistance element, the resistance of a material layer being variable in accordance with an electric current or voltage applied across first and second electrodes, the method including: (1) a first electrode production step; (2) a step of forming the material layer on the first electrode, wherein the material layer comprises an oxide semiconductor having a perovskite structure represented by the chemical formula RMCoO3, wherein R is a rare-earth element and M is an alkaline-earth element; (3) an oxygen treatment step of heating the material layer in an oxygen atmosphere; (4) a step of forming the second electrode on the material layer that was subjected to the oxygen treatment step; and (5) a hydrogen treatment step of heating the material layer in a reducing atmosphere containing hydrogen.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element, a thermoelectric power generation element, and a thermoelectric power generation device, each of which has high thermoelectric power generation performance and can be used for more applications. The thermoelectric power generation element includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, where the laminate has a structure in which SrB6 layers and metal layers containing Cu, Ag, Au, or Al are laminated alternately, a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the SrB6 layer is in a range of metal layer: SrB6 layer=20:1 to 2.

Abstract: An electro-resistance element that has a different configuration from conventional elements and shows outstanding resistance change characteristics is provided. An electro-resistance element has two or more states in which electric resistance values are different, and is switchable from one of the two or more states into another by application of a predetermined voltage or current. The electro-resistance element includes: a multilayer structure including an upper electrode, a lower electrode, and an electro-resistance layer sandwiched by the electrodes, the multilayer structure disposed on a substrate; wherein the electro-resistance layer has a spinel structure, and a surface of the lower electrode that faces the electro-resistance layer is oxidized. The electro-resistance element can be manufactured by a manufacturing process at 400° C. or lower.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion device of the present invention includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a layered oxide arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode, the layered oxide, and the second electrode are arranged in this order so that a multilayer is formed. The layered oxide is formed of electric conductive layers and electric insulating layers being alternately arranged. The C axis of the layered oxide is perpendicular to the interface between the first electrode and the layered oxide. The area of the second electrode is smaller than that of the first electrode.

Abstract: With conventional thermoelectric conversion materials, their thermoelectric conversion performance has been insufficient, and a problem has been to achieve stable performance in an oxidizing atmosphere and an air atmosphere. In view of this, according to the present invention, a thermoelectric material is made of a complex oxide that has vanadium oxide as its main component and is represented by the general formula AxVOx+1.5+d. Here, A is at least one selected from an alkali element, an alkaline-earth element, and a rare-earth element, x is a numerical value within the range of 0.2 to 2, and d is a non-stoichiometric ratio of oxygen and is a numerical value within the range of from ?1 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element, a thermoelectric power generation element, and a thermoelectric power generation device, each of which has high thermoelectric power generation performance and can be used for more applications. The thermoelectric power generation element includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate that is interposed between the first and second electrodes and that is electrically connected to both the first and second electrodes, where the laminate has a structure in which SrB6 layers and metal layers containing Cu, Ag, Au, or Al are laminated alternately, a thickness ratio between the metal layer and the SrB6 layer is in a range of metal layer: SrB6 layer=20:1 to 2.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power generation method using a thermoelectric power generation element, a thermoelectric power generation element, and a thermoelectric power generation device, each of which has higher thermoelectric power generation performance than conventional ones and can be used for more applications.

Abstract: The invention provides a power generation method using a thermoelectric element, a thermoelectric element, and a thermoelectric device that excel in thermoelectric performance and are applicable to a wider range of applications over conventional counterparts. The element includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are disposed to oppose each other, and a laminate interposed between the first and second electrodes and electrically connected to both of the electrodes. The laminate has a structure in which a Bi layer and a metal layer made of a metal other than Bi are alternately layered, and the Bi layer and the metal layer having layer surfaces that are slanted with respect to a direction in which the first and second electrodes oppose each other. The element generates a potential difference between the electrodes by a temperature difference created along a direction perpendicular to the opposing direction of the first and second electrodes in the element.

Abstract: It is often the case that a substrate suitable for epitaxial growth does not match a substrate desirable for the use in functional elements such as thermoelectric conversion elements or the like. The present invention makes it possible to separate a predetermined layered structure formed on a substrate therefrom through an action of water vapor. A method of manufacturing a crystalline film of the present invention includes the steps of: epitaxially growing on a substrate a crystalline film including a layered structure so that the layered structure comes into contact with the substrate; contacting water vapor supplied from a water vapor source with the layered structure in a chamber; and separating the layered structure that has been contacted with the water vapor from the substrate to obtain the crystalline film. The layered structure has a layer containing an alkali metal, and a layer containing an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, Ti, Cr, V, Nb, and Mo.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion element that has high efficiency even at reduced thickness. In this thermoelectric conversion element, striped p-type thermoelectric conversion parts are arranged on one surface of an insulating layer, and striped n-type thermoelectric conversion parts are arranged on the other surface. The two sets of stripes form overlapped portions. At one or more of the overlapped portions, a first p-type thermoelectric conversion part and a first n-type thermoelectric conversion part are electrically connected via a first conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer, a second p-type thermoelectric conversion part and a second n-type thermoelectric conversion part are electrically connected via a second conducting portion arranged within the insulating layer, and the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion are electrically isolated.