Fe-Al-Si Thermoelectric (FAST) Materials and Modules: Diffusion Couple and Machine-Learning-Assisted Materials Development.

To lower the introduction and maintenance costs of autonomous power supplies for driving Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, we have developed low-cost Fe-Al-Si-based thermoelectric (FAST) materials and power generation modules. Our development approach combines computational science, experiments, mapping measurements, and machine learning (ML). FAST materials have a good balance of mechanical properties and excellent chemical stability, superior to that of conventional Bi-Te-based materials. However, it remains challenging to enhance the power factor (PF) and lower the thermal conductivity of FAST materials to develop reliable power generation devices. This forum paper describes the current status of materials development based on experiments and ML with limited data, together with power generation module fabrication related to FAST materials with a view to commercialization. Combining bulk combinatorial methods with diffusion couple and mapping measurements could accelerate the search to enhance PF for FAST materials. We report that ML prediction is a powerful tool for finding unexpected off-stoichiometric compositions of the Fe-Al-Si system and dopant concentrations of a fourth element to enhance the PF, i.e., Co substitution for Fe atoms in FAST materials.

Earth-Abundant Fe-Al-Si Thermoelectric (FAST) Materials: from Fundamental Materials Research to Module Development.

To develop an autonomous power generation technology to support an internet-of-things (IoT) society, we proposed low-cost and nontoxic Fe-Al-Si-based thermoelectric (FAST) materials consisting of an Fe3Al2Si3 phase. Because of the cost-effectiveness and easy disposal of FAST materials, they are attractive for autonomous power supplies to drive IoT sensors and devices. While bismuth-tellurium-based thermoelectric power generation modules have been commercialized, the discovery of FAST materials opens an additional route to generate power from waste heat at room temperature under a small temperature difference, which will expand the diversity of applications of thermoelectric power generation modules. This paper reports the thermoelectric properties of FAST materials synthesized by conventional laboratory-scale synthesis and mass production processes, enhancement of power factor less than 600 K through homogenization and removal of metallic precipitations, development of thermoelectric power generation modules, and the results of power generation tests. The operation of temperature/humidity sensors and wireless transmission by Bluetooth low energy communication using FAST materials-based modules under a small temperature difference at room temperature was demonstrated.

[A case of patient with malignant lymphoma who received home chemotherapy and achieved a good remission].

There have been an increasing number of aged patients with malignancies. But, there are some patients who can not receive anti-cancer therapy due to poor activities of daily living and/or aging, etc. In Japan, medical practice at cancer patients' home has been expected for best supportive care, and most physicians believe that home chemotherapy is difficult because cancer patients frequently develop complications. We herein report a case of an 89-year-old female affected by malignant lymphoma who received a home chemotherapy and achieved a good remission. The clinical course of the present case suggested that with careful preparations, home chemotherapy might be feasible and one of therapeutic options for cancer patients.