Patent ID: 8669635

Claim:
A thermoelectric device comprising: (a) a heat resistant substrate; (b) a first thermoelectric material comprising an electrically conductive polymer, wherein the first thermoelectric material is disposed in a thin film on said substrate, (c) a second thermoelectric material comprising an n-type semiconductor or a metal, wherein the second thermoelectric material is disposed in a thin film or wire shape on said substrate, wherein the second thermoelectric material is adjacent to and spaced apart from said first thermoelectric material and wherein said first and second thermoelectric materials together constitute a unit thermocouple, and (d) an electrically conductive material that electrically connects an end part of said first thermoelectric material and an end part of said second thermoelectric material, thereby forming a circuit wherein said first thermoelectric material and said second thermoelectric material are alternately electrically connected in series and both ends of the circuit are opened.