Quantum batteries would be faster bigger and feasible

New research shows that the implementation of so-called quantum batteries is a realistic option. Their special effect sounds paradoxical at first: the higher the capacity, the faster the storage can be charged. The batteries work here with the effects of quantum mechanics, which occur when the molecules they contain have a certain degree of entanglement. This creates a phenomenon known as superabsorption.

The basis of this is constructive interference, which is well known: multiple waves reinforce each other if they overlap in the right beat. This is well known from sound or waves on water surfaces. This also works in a similar way when absorbing electrical energy in the quantum batteries. The molecules in which the incoming energy is to be stored interfere with each other. And the more of these molecules are present, the greater the capacity to store the absorbed energy. Accordingly, batteries of this type can be charged faster the larger they are.

First practical proof

So much for the theory at least – but it was also necessary to prove that this can also be implemented in practice. This is researchers at the University of Adelaide now succeded. To do this, they placed an active layer of light-absorbing molecules – a dye known as Lumogen-F Orange – in a microcavity between two high-quality mirrors used in laboratory environments.

Measurements then showed that the dye molecules actually stored energy faster as the microcavity system got larger. On this basis, they now want to continue researching batteries with which, for example, electric cars can be charged very quickly in the future and the energy peaks from solar and wind power systems can be buffered. However, it will probably take some time before the memory will be available, as research in this area is still in a very early phase.