NOVELTY - A thermoelectric element comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a p-type thermoelectric material, and an n-type thermoelectric material. The p-type thermoelectric material is positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material, and the n-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material.    USE - For a thermoelectric module.    ADVANTAGE - The thermoelectric element has high thermoelectric conversion efficiency and excellent properties in terms of thermal stability and chemical durability that are required to realize thermoelectric generation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A thermoelectric element comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a p-type thermoelectric material, and an n-type thermoelectric material. The p-type thermoelectric material is positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material, and the n-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material.    The p-type thermoelectric material comprises complex oxide of formula CaaA1bCocA2dOe or BifPbgM1hCo1M2jOk.    The n-type thermoelectric material comprises a complex oxide of formula LnmR1nNipR2qOr or (LnsR3t)2NiuR4vOw.    Each electrically conductive thermal buffer material comprises an electrically conductive material having a thermal expansion coefficient between the thermal expansion coefficient of the thermoelectric material to which the thermal buffer material is bonded and the thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate.    A1=Na, K, Li, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Sr, Ba, Al, Bi, Y, or lanthanoids;    A2=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Nb or Ta;    f=1.8-2.2;    g=0-0.4;    h=1.8-2.2;    i=1.6-2.2;    j=0-0.5;    k=8-10;    R1=Na, K, Sr, Ca, or Bi;    R2=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, W, Nb, or Ta;    m=0.5-1.7;    n=0-0.5;    p=0.5-1.2;    q=0-0.5;    r=2.7-3.3;    Ln=lanthanoids;    R3=Na, K, Sr, Ca, or Bi;    R4=Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Mo, W, Nb, or Ta;    s=0.5-1.2;    t=0-0.5;    u=0.5-1.2;    v=0-0.5;    w=3.6-4.4.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (a) a thermoelectric module comprising thermoelectric elements, where thermoelectric elements are electrically connected in series so that an unbonded end portion of a p-type thermoelectric material of one thermoelectric element is electrically connected to an unbonded end portion of an n-type thermoelectric material of another thermoelectric element; and    (b) a thermoelectric conversion method comprising positioning one end of a thermoelectric module at a high-temperature part and positioning the other end of the module at a low-temperature part.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows schematic view of the thermoelectric element.