Thermoelectric devices and methods for making and using the devices and their intermediates are provided. Membrane-supported thermoelectric modules are fabricated by dispensing thermoelectric powder into select locations of a membrane to form electrically-isolated columns of thermoelectric material. The powder is then sintered or fused to form thermoelectric elements, which are then electrically connected and combined with thermal interface films to form the modules. The modules are the building blocks of electrical current generating, thermoelectric cooling and heat scavenging thermoelectric devices.