The State of the Art on Thermoelectric Devices in Japan

Japan has promoted thermoelectric research and development since 1960's. The 1st application of thermoelectric power generation in Japan was a candle radio using β-FeSi2 modules that was commercialized in 1990. The 2nd one was a thermoelectric wrist watch using Bi-Te modules in 1999. Development of thermoelectric devices or modules has been activated since 2002, when the Japanese NEDO project titled by “Development of thermoelectric energy conversion system with high efficiency” started. The activities of devices or modules have not been reported in the scientific journals or on the English website, since Japanese private companies contribute mainly to the activities, mostly independently of the academic activities by Japanese universities or institutes. In this article, the state-of-the-art of thermoelectric devices or modules in Japan is introduced in comparison with south-eastern Asian countries and Western countries, and the typical Japanese modules are exhibited.