Manufacturing Thermoelectric Generators on the Moon

My favorite book is Jules Verne's "L'Île Mystérieuse". In the novel, shipwreck survivors build a civilization from scratch using mainly what they find on the island. So many talk about colonization on the moon and Mars. However, I don’t see a proper action in the right direction. The key to settling on a new location is to utilize the local resources. We keep sending lunar landers that only work on solar panels and conduct scientific experiments only. We should start testing manufacturing on the moon. The key to all manufacturing is the energy. We should send small lunar explorers that have legs (some of them double as arms) that operate with nuclear batteries. I propose these robots to try manufacturing electric generators using the materials found on the moon. 

A thermoelectric generator (TEG) is a solid-state device that converts temperature differences directly into electrical energy through a phenomenon called the Seebeck effect. I read an article that studied TEG using Silicon and Magnesium (High-Performance p-Type Magnesium Silicon Thermoelectrics). These two elements are abundant on lunar crust. The lunar explorer would manufacture thin sheets of magnesium and cover it with silicon. Additionally, it would manufacture aluminum sheets to be attached on top and bottom of the Magnesium Silicate sheets like seen on solar panels as an electric conductor. (Manufacturing semiconducting solar panels would be very complex. Also, phosphor used on n-type semiconductors is not that common on the moon compared to magnesium.) Silicon, Magnesium and Aluminum are all in oxide form. Therefore, as pure metals are produced, byproduct oxygen can be stored in a container for future use.

The lunar explorer would manufacture these TEG sheets close to the edge of a crater. Therefore, TEGs would receive sunlight efficiently. The manufactured TEGs would be rolled down the edge of the crater. This reduces the energy required to deploy them.

I propose this experimental manufacturing to be conducted on a LEO robotic space station first. The robotic space station would have a rotating section that has lunar soil on the ground. The rotation creates small gravity to mimic the moon. As a result, the machine and the process can be perfected much faster before it is deployed on the moon.

Electric generator manufacturing is a positive feedback process. As you build more, the rate of manufacturing increases.