Thick-Film CuNi-Ag and CuNi-Cu Thermocouples and Thermoelectric Microgenerators

Electrical and thermoelectric properties of thickfilm planar thermoelectric microgenerators made on the basis of constantan-, copper- and silver-based inks are investigated and analyzed in a wide temperature range from 250 to 400 K. The Seebeck coefficient for both systems, CuNi-Ag and CuNiCu, has similar values and increases as a function of temperature. This parameter is about 3-5 μV/K higher than the Seebeck coefficient value for a T-type wire thermocouple (copper-constantan).