Researchers in Australia have developed and tested what is described as the world's first proof-of-concept quantum battery, which charges faster as it scales up. Led by CSIRO in partnership with the University of Melbourne and RMIT, the prototype leverages quantum mechanics for rapid energy absorption. Findings were published in Light: Science & Applications.
Australian researchers have successfully built and tested a prototype quantum battery, marking a potential advance in energy storage technology. The project, led by Dr. James Quach of CSIRO's quantum science and technologies team, involved collaborators from the University of Melbourne and RMIT. The results appeared in the journal Light: Science & Applications in 2026 (volume 15, issue 1, DOI: 10.1038/s41377-026-02240-6), with authors including Kieran Hymas, James A. Hutchison, Trevor A. Smith, and James Q. Quach among others. Unlike conventional batteries that rely on chemical reactions, this quantum battery uses quantum mechanics properties to charge, store, and discharge energy. Associate Professor James Hutchison of the University of Melbourne explained: 'The advantage of quantum is that the system absorbs light in a single, giant 'super absorption' event and this charges the battery faster.' A key finding is that the battery's charging speed increases counterintuitively as its size grows, confirmed through testing at the University of Melbourne's Ultrafast Laser Laboratory. Professor Trevor Smith noted: '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.' Dr. Quach highlighted the prototype's operation at room temperature and its scalable charging potential, adding: 'Our findings confirm a fundamental quantum effect that's completely counterintuitive: quantum batteries charge faster as they get large.' He also pointed out next steps: extending energy storage time, as more research is needed to realize practical applications.