Method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device by additive manufacturing of combs to be set in contact with one another

A method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device, which thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermoelectric junctions where each thermoelectric junction, on the one hand, is arranged between a first thermal side and a second thermal side of the thermoelectric device and, on the other hand, comprises a first element doped according to a first doping type extending between said first and second thermal sides and a second element doped according to a second doping type and extending between said first and second thermal sides, the first element and the second element being electrically connected together at one of said first and second thermal sides and allowing generating a thermoelectric effect, the manufacturing method comprising:

• a step a) of manufacturing at least one first part formed in a first material doped according to the first doping type and shaped like a comb delimiting a first base and a plurality of first branches substantially parallel to one another and extending substantially orthogonally from the first base,
• a step b) of manufacturing at least one second part formed in a second material doped according to the second doping type shaped like a comb delimiting a second base and a plurality of second branches substantially parallel to one another and extending substantially orthogonally from the second base,
• an assembly step c) during which the first part and the second part are mechanically assembled together to form a self-supporting set,
• an electrical connection step d) in which the distal end of all or part of the first branches of the first part are electrically connected to the second base of the second part and in which the distal end of all or part of the second branches of the second part are electrically connected to the first base of the first part,
• a cutting step e) in which the first base is sectioned into at least one first area located between the root of one of the first branches and the contact with one of the adjacent second branches and in which the second base is sectioned into at least one second area located between the root of one of the second branches and the contact with one of the first branches, on completion of which step e) each first branch and each second branch separated by a first area respectively constitute the first element and the second element of a thermoelectric junction electrically connected via the portion of the second base linking said first branch and said second branch separated in this manner by this first area, whereas each first branch and each second branch separated by a second area respectively constitute the first element and the second element of a thermoelectric junction electrically connected via the portion of the first base linking said first branch and said second branch separated in this manner by this second area.