Quantum batteries: The future of energy storage?
Abstract
According to the International Energy Agency, each human uses more than 80 GJ of energy per year; this is equivalent to leaving a washing machine continuously running for one year for every person on Earth. This consumption is expected to increase by 28% by 2040 (from 2015 levels). The majority (86%) of this energy comes from fossil fuels. This dependence on fossil fuels comes with major environmental costs, with climate change arguably being the greatest challenge facing our era. Renewable energy offers a possible solution. However, renewable energy sources, like solar and wind are not continuous sources, and therefore energy storage technology or batteries, remain an urgent challenge for further worldwide adoption of renewable energy. Alongside the need for efficient batteries to store renewable energy, the portability of batteries makes them an essential component in mobile technologies, including electric vehicles. Current batteries operate on the basis of well-understood electrochemical principles which were developed two centuries ago. While there is an ongoing intense effort aimed at improving their performance through optimization of the materials and the device architecture, it is worth exploring completely novel and disruptive approaches towards energy storage. Quantum batteries are energy storage devices that utilise quantum mechanics to enhance performance or functionality. While they are still in their infancy with only proof-of-principle demonstrations…
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