Abstract The main objective of this work is aim to synthesize Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O thermoelectric materials for fabricating thermoelectric modules and inventing thermoelectric generator. The Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O sample was prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method. The formation of structure was proved by X-ray diffraction and the thermoelectric properties were measured. The results presented that the Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O displayed thermoelectric materials and showed the thermoelectric properties as higher than that of ZnO based. The Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O thermoelectric modules displayed the electric power was increased with number of module, large temperature difference and operation at high temperature. The Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O thermoelectric generator showed high performance for electric generator at high temperature. The sixteen Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O legs thermoelectric generator can generate electric power 1.4 mW at 800 in Δ T = 600 C. Thus, the Zn 0.96 Al 0.04 O thermoelectric material can be used for application of thermoelectric generator at high temperature.