Superabsorption unlocks key to next-generation quantum batteries

The University of Adelaide has a credit.

The University of Adelaide and their overseas partners have taken a key step in making quantum batteries a reality. The concept of superabsorption was proved by them.

"Quantum batteries, which use quantum mechanical principles to enhance their capabilities, require less charging time the bigger they get," said Dr. James Q. Quach, who is a Ramsay Fellow in the School of Physical Sciences and the Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) at the University

It is possible that the charging power of quantum batteries increases faster than the size of the battery which could allow new ways to speed charging.

The team built several wafer-like microcavities of different sizes to prove the concept of superabsorption. Each was charged with a laser.

The microcavity has an active layer that stores energy. Dr. Quach said that the idea of quantum superposition is what underlies the superabsorbing effect of the quantum batteries.

The charging time decreased as the number of molecules increased.

"This is a significant breakthrough, and marks a major milestone in the development of the quantum battery."

The idea of a quantum battery has the potential to have a significant impact on energy capture and storage.

The amount of energy people consume is expected to increase by 28 percent by the year 2040. Fossil fuels will still be the main source of energy. A battery that can harvest and store light energy at the same time would provide significant cost reduction and reduce the unpredictability of energy from solar technologies.

A new vista in battery technology could be achieved by applying the team's work.

Professor Peter Veitch, Head of School of Physical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, said that the concepts that Dr. Quach and his team have worked on opens up the possibility of a new class of compact and powerful energy-storing devices.

The quantum battery prototype is the next step.

James Q. Quach and his colleagues wrote about superabsorption in an organic microcavity. There is a DOI: 10.126/sciadv.abk3160.

Science Advances has journal information.

The key to next-generation quantum batteries was unlocked by superabsorption.

The document is copyrighted. Any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research cannot be reproduced without written permission. The content is not intended to be used for anything other than information purposes.