Scientists at CSIRO, RMIT University, and the University of Melbourne have unveiled the world’s first functional quantum battery prototype. The device charges, stores, and releases energy using quantum physics rather than chemistry, with findings published in Nature Light: Science & Applications.
The prototype is a small layered wafer of organic materials charged wirelessly by a laser pulse lasting femtoseconds — a quadrillionth of a second. It then holds energy for nanoseconds, a gap that scales dramatically. Lead researcher James Quach noted that a one-minute charge could theoretically keep the battery powered for years.
Unlike conventional batteries, which slow down as capacity increases, quantum batteries charge faster when larger. This occurs because molecules act collectively through a process the team calls “superabsorption,” causing charging time to drop as more molecules are added.
The prototype operates at room temperature, an advantage over competing superconducting designs requiring cryogenic cooling. CSIRO is already seeking development partners to advance the research further.
Originally reported by Decrypt.
