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. The element of the present invention provides two junctions in
a region where a conventional element would provide only one junction.