We studied the temperature dependence of the thermoelectric properties of a Te-doped InSb bulk single crystal. The temperature was in the range from 10 to 723 K. We analyzed the scattering mechanisms throughout the whole temperature range and found that above 50 K, scattering by polar optical phonons was dominant. The maximum value of the dimensionless figure of merit was 0.6 at 673 K. The load characteristics of the sample were an open output voltage of 28 mV and a maximum output power of 216μW at a temperature difference of 195 K.

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The liquefaction of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) was studied with various straight-chain alcohols in subcritical or supercritical state using a batch-type reaction vessel to obtain liquid fuel from lignocellulosics. Under the reaction condition of 270 o C, beech wood was liquefied to some extent in any alcohol with about 50~65% of insoluble residue left after the treatment for 30 min. Under the condition of 350 o C, however, more than 90% of wood was decomposed and liquefied in any alcohol. Alcohol with the longer alkyl chain could have lignocellulosics liquefied in the shorter reaction time. Since many kinds of alcohols such as methanol and ethanol can be produced from biomass, the 100% biomass-based liquid fuel can be prepared by supercritical alcohol technology when using such bioalcohols.

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