Researchers Build First Quantum Battery Prototype, Completing Full Cycle After Femtosecond Charge
Updated
Updated · SlashGear · May 24
Researchers Build First Quantum Battery Prototype, Completing Full Cycle After Femtosecond Charge
6 articles · Updated · SlashGear · May 24
A first working quantum battery prototype has been charged, stored energy and discharged, marking the field’s first full battery cycle outside theory.
Laser charging took only a few femtoseconds, and the device held its charge about six orders of magnitude longer than the charging time before discharging.
The prototype is still tiny—holding only a very small charge for a few billionths of a second—so commercial use remains distant despite the breakthrough.
Lead researcher James Quach said a scaled-up version with the same properties could charge in about 1 minute and stay charged for years, potentially enabling wireless charging for drones, cars and other devices.
Researchers see the most likely early application in quantum computing, where the technology could mature before any broader consumer or electric-vehicle use.
What is the single biggest hurdle preventing this femtosecond-charging battery from becoming a commercial reality?
Will this revolutionary battery technology first power quantum computers before it ever reaches our cars and phones?
If this quantum battery charges faster as it gets bigger, why does its charge vanish in mere nanoseconds?
Quantum Batteries Achieve Room-Temperature Breakthrough: CSIRO’s 2026 Prototype Signals a New Era in Ultra-Fast, Wireless Energy Storage
Overview
In March 2026, CSIRO, RMIT University, and the University of Melbourne achieved a major breakthrough by developing the world’s first proof-of-concept quantum battery prototype. This device successfully completed a full charge-store-discharge cycle, marking a shift from theory to practical demonstration in quantum energy storage. Unlike other approaches that require extreme cooling, the CSIRO prototype operates at room temperature by using organic materials in its microcavity. This innovation is a critical milestone, showing that quantum batteries could one day offer faster charging, wireless energy transfer, and better performance than today’s conventional batteries.