Fully integrated thermoelectric devices and their application to aerospace de-icing systems

A thermoelectric module comprising:

• an integrated, layered structure comprising:
• first and second, thermally conductive, surface volumes, each in thermal communication with a separate respective first and second electrically conductive patterned trace layers;
• and
• an array of n-type and p-type semiconducting elements embedded in amorphous silica dielectric and electrically connected between the first and second patterned trace layers forming a thermoelectric circuit,
• wherein the semiconducting elements have a polycrystalline microstructure with polycrystalline grain sizes that are less than 100 nm, and
• wherein the elements of the array are separated by amorphous silica.