Abstract: This invention relates to a probe for an optical near field microscope, said probe comprising a probe tip which is formed on a self-supporting carrier and to a method for producing the same. One object of this invention is to provide a probe for an optical near field microscope and a method of producing the same, whereby the probe has a probe tip with a very small aperture diameter and thus can be reproducibly manufactured in a simple, advantageously controllable method. This object is solved with regard to the probe by a generic probe which is characterised in that the probe tip is embodied as a complete structure which is applied to a planar surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A method produces a thermoelectric layer structure on a substrate and the thermoelectric layer structure has at least one electrically anisotropically conductive V-VI layer, in particular a (Bi, Sb)2 (Te, Se)3 layer. The V-VI layer is formed by use of a seed layer or by a structure formed in the substrate, and disposed relative to the substrate such that an angle between the direction of the highest conductivity of the V-VI layer and the substrate is greater than 0°. The orientation can also be effected by an electric field. Components are formed of the thermoelectric layer structure in which the angle between the direction of the highest conductivity of the V-VI layer and the substrate is greater than 0°. As a result, the known anisotropy of the V-VI materials can advantageously be used for the construction of components.

Abstract: A method produces a thermoelectric layer structure on a substrate and the thermoelectric layer structure has at least one electrically anisotropically conductive V-VI layer, in particular a (Bi, Sb)2 (Te, Se)3 layer. The V-VI layer is formed by use of a seed layer or by a structure formed in the substrate, and disposed relative to the substrate such that an angle between the direction of the highest conductivity of the V-VI layer and the substrate is greater than 0°. The orientation can also be effected by an electric field. Components are formed of the thermoelectric layer structure in which the angle between the direction of the highest conductivity of the V-VI layer and the substrate is greater than 0°. As a result, the known anisotropy of the V-VI materials can advantageously be used for the construction of components.