1.2 Microdevices
The use of thin-films deposition techniques with microsystems technologies renewed
interest in the thermoelectricity. Integration of efficient solid-state thermoelectric
microdevices with microelectronics is desirable for local cooling and thermoelectric
microgeneration, since they can be used to stabilise the temperature of devices, decrease
noise levels and increase operation speed. An array of such devices can also be used for
lab-on-chip applications, where the precise temperature control is required. Despite the
range of exciting applications, only few approaches to manufacture thermoelectric
devices with small dimensions were reported up to now [3-6]. Also, the Peltier devices
can convert thermal energy to electrical energy, because they are reversible. Electronic
devices with low-power consumptions can be supplied with these energy converters.
Examples of electronic devices include electronics embedded in wearables,
wristwatches, among others. The last application has been widely explored by Seiko [7]
and by Citizen [8]. The Citizen’s Eco-Drive