TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The nanopore formation layer comprises aluminum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The step of providing a substrate comprises depositing an electrode layer on a temporary substrate material, selectively removing areas of the electrode layer to leave electrode pads, depositing substrate materials around and on top of the electrode pads, and removing the temporary substrate and the substrate material above the electrodes. The method further comprises disposing a nanopore formation layer on the substrate and forming nanopores in the nanopore formation layer after the nanopore formation layer is disposed on the substrate; applying a genetic algorithm to determine a second electrode pattern, which optimizes the connection of the many thermocouples; encapsulating the substrate and nanowire thermocouples to form a nanowire thermoelectric module and creating a vacuum around the nanowires; and attaching a pyrolitic sheet to the thermoelectric module. The nanopores in the nanopore formation layer are registered to the substrate electrodes. Anodic oxidation is used to crease nanopores within the nanopore formation layer. The nanopore formation layer is removed prior to completion of the thermoelectric device. The nanopore formation layer is not removed until after the second electrode pattern is formed. The p-type nanowire or the n-type nanowire is formed prior to the formation of another type of nanowire. Many thermocouples are formed and are connected in series and/or parallel by the second electrode pattern. The step of applying a general-purpose optimization algorithm to determine a second electrode pattern which optimizes the connection of the many thermocouples. More than on p-type nanowire is formed, more than one n-type nanowire is formed, and more than one top electrode is formed.Preferred Components: The thermocouples form banks of series connected thermocouples and the banks of series connected thermocouples are connected in parallel. Preferred Parameters: The p-type nanowires and n-type nanowires formed have a diameter of 5-500 (preferably 10-50) nm.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The nanopore formation layer comprises aluminum.