ABSTRACT
Thermoelectric technology that converts heat into electrical energy or vice versa is so powerful and important because it does not involve any moving parts nor does it release any by-products into the environment. A thermoelectric device can have three functions: electrical power generation when heat is provided and cooling or heating when electrical power is provided. The thermoelectric properties have been the focus ever since the discovery by Seebeck, which is the right thing to do. However, when the thermoelectric properties are good enough for some applications, mechanical properties have to be considered for device liability. Most of the good thermoelectric materials have not been studied for good contact layers. Without good contacts, good modules cannot be realized. Module assembling is not simple and is basically an art and has been kept as secret. There are very few reports on module assembling since it involves much more secret engineering.
