World's first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging

Australian researchers have developed and tested a prototype quantum battery believed to be the world's first of its kind. The project was led by Dr. James Quach at CSIRO in partnership with the University of Melbourne and RMIT. University of Melbourne researchers Associate Professor James Hutchison and Professor Trevor Smith were key contributors to the work published in Light: Science and Applications. The battery operates using quantum mechanics rather than chemical reactions found in everyday batteries. It absorbs energy through a single giant super absorption event that enables faster charging. Researchers observed that the system becomes more efficient and charges faster as it scales in size. Testing took place at the University of Melbourne Ultrafast Laser Laboratory in the School of Chemistry. Dual femtosecond laser amplifiers and tunable optical parametric amplifiers helped record ultrafast signals. Associate Professor Hutchison explained that the quantum approach allows the system to absorb light in one super absorption event. Dr. Quach said the proof of concept validates rapid and scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature. The team identified extending energy storage time as the next step in the research. The study confirms a fundamental quantum effect in which quantum batteries charge faster as they grow larger.