A method of separating thermoelectric material

The invention relates to a method for the separation of thermoelectric material on a substrate. Nanoparticles made of thermoelectric material are synthesized and provided that the printing processes (ink jet and laser printing processes) can be carried out optimally, however, a subsequent pressureless sintering is possible. Pressureless sintering leads to dense layers, whereby the mechanical and thermoelectric properties of the material reach the values ​​which are obtained with other methods (particularly melting, sintering method with print). Thus, the nanoparticles do not react with each other during the printing process, the particles are coated with a molecular layer (monolayer) that prevents the aggregation of the particles, thus causing a homogeneous distribution of the particles in the ink (colloidal solution) or powder for laser printing electrically non-conductive power, so that they can be electrostatically charged to function as a toner. This molecular layer is removed after the printing process by a sintering treatment by which the particles obtain a very reactive surface. Pressureless sintering leads to good relations between the nanoparticles themselves.