Thermoelectric applications
Materials with thermoelectric effects

The schematic diagram of a TE module is the same for both cooling and electricity generation. The diagram shown in figure 30 corresponds to electricity generation (the heat flow produces the current), which makes it more complicated to implement because of the temperature resistance required.

Electrical contacts must be established between the p/n materials and the module support, diffusion of these contacts into the materials (and the support) must be avoided, the materials must be protected against evaporation (if working in a vacuum, for example: space) or oxidation, gradient losses through thermal leakage must be limited, and so on. So, here again, there are problems...