A Monolithic Oxide-Based Transversal Thermoelectric Energy Harvester

We report the fabrication and properties of a monolithic transversal thermoelectric energy harvester based on the combination of a thermoelectric oxide and a metal. The fabrication of the device is done with a ceramic multilayer technology using printing and co-firing processes. Five transversal devices were combined to a meander-like thermoelectric generator. Electrical measurements and finite element calculations were performed to characterize the resulting thermoelectric generator. A maximum experimental electrical power output of 30.2 mW at a temperature difference of Δ T = 208 K was found. The prepared monolithic thermoelectric generator provides at Δ T = 35 K sufficient energy to drive a simple electronic sensor application.