Quantum Batteries

Overview

Quantum batteries are devices that use quantum effects to leverage enhanced efficiencies over conventional battery technologies. While research into these fascinating systems is still in its infancy, quantum batteries are poised to revolutionise energy storage as we know it by offering higher energy storage capacity, faster charging rates, and longer battery lifetimes compared to conventional batteries. Quantum batteries have implications for various applications, including electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and portable electronics. Most importantly, recent results in fundamental quantum information theory have suggested that quantum batteries are mandatory in realising truly reversible quantum gates for quantum computers.

The idea behind quantum batteries is rooted in the principles of quantum mechanics, which govern the behavior of particles at the atomic and subatomic levels. Quantum effects such as superposition and entanglement may be harnessed to enhance the storage and release of energy in a battery system. One of the key concepts in quantum batteries is the use of quantum superpositions of energy states. In a classical battery, energy is stored in discrete states, but in a quantum battery, energy could be stored in a superposition of multiple states simultaneously. This could allow for a higher energy density and potentially increase the amount of energy that can be stored. Another concept is the use of quantum entanglement, where particles become correlated in a way that their properties are linked. This could enable the transfer of energy between quantum batteries without direct physical contact, potentially leading to more efficient energy transfer and reduced energy losses.

Our interests

The diverse specialties of our group at CSIRO allows for an end-to-end holistic analysis of quantum battery technologies from fabrication to spectroscopic measurement and theoretical modelling. In our lab at CSIRO, we use thermal deposition techniques to fabricate cavity quantum battery systems with active layers that are just a few nanometer thick. In collaboration with the University of Melbourne, our in-house spectroscopist uses ultra-fast laser pulses to study the complicated charging dynamics of each system. The data are analysed with quantum mechanical theoretical models to tease apart the essential physics and suggest new experiments which could lead to the fabrication of new, bigger and better quantum batteries.

Selected publications

  1. James Q. Quach, Giulio Cerullo, and Tersilla Virgili. “Quantum batteries: The future of energy storage?.” Joule 7, no. 10 (2023): 2195-2200.
  2. Francesco Campaioli, Stefano Gherardini, James Q. Quach, Marco Polini, and Gian Marcello Andolina. “Colloquium: Quantum Batteries.” arXiv preprint arXiv:2308.02277 (2023).
  3. James Q. Quach, Kirsty E. McGhee, Lucia Ganzer, Dominic M. Rouse, Brendon W. Lovett, Erik M. Gauger, Jonathan Keeling, Giulio Cerullo, David G. Lidzey, and Tersilla Virgili. “Superabsorption in an organic microcavity: Toward a quantum battery.” Science advances 8, no. 2 (2022): eabk3160.
  4. James Q. Quach and William J. Munro. “Using dark states to charge and stabilize open quantum batteries.” Physical Review Applied 14, no. 2 (2020): 024092.