Concept:
A thermocouple is a temperature measuring device based on the generation of voltage due to temperature difference between two junctions.
Step 1: A thermocouple is made by joining two dissimilar metals.
Step 2: When the two junctions are kept at different temperatures, an emf is produced.
Step 3: This phenomenon is called Seebeck effect.
Step 4: The generated emf is used to measure temperature.
Therefore, a thermocouple works on:
\[
\boxed{\text{Seebeck effect}}
\]