A view to recent developments in thermoelectric sensors

Different types of thermoelectric radiation detectors are presented, as well as sensors like AC-power sensors, and gas pressure sensors. The suitability of thermoelectric radiation detectors for different applications is discussed and compared to photon detectors and other thermal detectors. In a systematic order, the characteristics of different device production techniques, of different thin thermoelectric films, and of different devices are listed, and their potential for further developments is discussed. The combination of thermoelectric materials and CMOS technology gave, and gives exciting new impulses to the field. For that reason, this subject is a dominant part of the paper.