World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging
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Science News from research organizations World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging Scientists have built a quantum battery that charges faster the bigger it gets—pointing toward a future of near-instant power. Date: March 22, 2026 Source: University of Melbourne Summary: Scientists in Australia have demonstrated a prototype quantum battery that could revolutionize energy storage. By harnessing quantum effects, it can absorb energy in a rapid “super absorption” event, enabling much faster charging than conventional batteries. Even more surprisingly, the system becomes more efficient as it scales up. The research opens the door to ultra-fast, next-generation energy technologies. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A new quantum battery prototype uses the strange rules of quantum physics to charge incredibly fast, potentially outperforming traditional batteries. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com Australian researchers have taken an important step forward in energy storage, successfully developing and testing what is believed to be the world's first proof-of-concept quantum battery. Scientists say this emerging technology could reshape how energy is stored and delivered, potentially enabling devices to charge at dramatically faster speeds.
First Quantum Battery Developed and Tested The project was led by CSIRO in partnership with the University of Melbourne and RMIT, with findings published in Nature Light: Science & Applications. Key contributors included University of Melbourne researchers Associate Professor James Hutchison and Professor Trevor Smith. "Similar to conventional batteries, quantum batteries charge, store and discharge energy. But while everyday batteries rely on chemical reactions, quantum batteries leverage properties of quantum mechanics," Associate Professor Hutchison said. "The advantage of quantum is that the system absorbs light in a single, giant 'super absorption' event and this charges the battery faster." Ultrafast Laser Testing Confirms Rapid Charging To verify the prototype's performance, researchers used the University of Melbourne's Ultrafast Laser Laboratory within the School of Chemistry. Advanced spectroscopy techniques allowed them to observe and confirm the battery's rapid charging behavior. "The unique capabilities of our Ultrafast Laser Lab, including dual femtosecond laser amplifiers and tunable optical parametric amplifiers, were critical in enabling us to record ultrafast signals over orders of magnitude in time," Professor Smith said. Breakthrough Points to Future Quantum Energy Storage The findings offer an early look at how quantum-based energy systems might power future technologies. Dr. James Quach, quantum science and technologies science leader at CSIRO, led the team that designed and built the prototype. "The research and proof-of-concept validates the exciting potential of quantum batteries to achieve rapid, scalable charging and energy storage at room temperature, laying the groundwork for next-gen energy solutions," Dr. Quach said. "Our findings confirm a fundamental quantum effect that's completely counterintuitive: quantum batteries charge faster as they get large. "While there's still much work to be done in quantum battery research, we've made an important move towards realizing the possibilities. The next step right now for quantum batteries is extending their energy storage time." RELATED TOPICS Matter & Energy Batteries Optics Chemistry Telecommunications Inorganic Chemistry Graphene Technology Biochemistry RELATED TERMS Quantum computer Solar power Quantum entanglement Introduction to quantum mechanics Nanoparticle Quantum dot Alternative fuel vehicle Microwave Story Source: Materials provided by University of Melbourne. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference: Kieran Hymas, Jack B. Muir, Daniel Tibben, Joel van Embden, Tadahiko Hirai, Christopher J. Dunn, Daniel E. Gómez, James A. Hutchison, Trevor A. Smith, James Q. Quach. Superextensive electrical power from a quantum battery. Light: Science, 2026; 15 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41377-026-02240-6 Cite This Page: MLA APA Chicago University of Melbourne. "World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 March 2026. . University of Melbourne. (2026, March 22). World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 22, 2026 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260322020249.htm University of Melbourne. "World’s first quantum battery could enable ultra fast charging." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260322020249.htm (accessed March 22, 2026). Explore More from ScienceDaily RELATED STORIES Runaway Battery Improves Safety Apr. 3, 2025 Overheating batteries are a serious risk, in the worst cases leading to fires and explosion. A team has now developed a simple, cost-effective method to test the safety of lithium-ion batteries, ...
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