Tin oxide-based thermoelectric device

A tin oxide thermoelectric device, comprising:

• an equal number of p-type pillars comprising at least 99.5 wt % nanostructured SnO and n-type pillars comprising at least 99.5 wt % nanostructured SnO2 arranged between a first electrical insulating substrate and a second electrical insulating substrate;
• wherein the n-type pillars and the p-type pillars are rectangular cuboids having dimensions of 0.5-5 mm×5-10 mm×2-15 mm arranged in a planar array checkboard pattern comprising non-contacting alternating p-type and n-type pillars, and the array comprises from 4 to 200 pairs of the p-type and n-type pillars;
• a plurality of first electrodes that are in thermal contact with the first electrical insulating substrate;
• and
• a plurality of second electrodes that are in thermal contact with the second electrical insulating substrate,
• wherein:
• the first electrical insulating substrate and the second electrical insulating substrate are ceramic,
• the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are wires that extend from the first and second electrical insulating substrates,
• the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes alternately connect the p-type pillars and n-type pillars in electrical series,
• wherein the thermoelectric module generates a power of 0.004-35 mW when a temperature difference ranging from 2 to 100° C. exists between the first electrical insulating substrate and the second electrical insulating substrate.