Quantum battery upends the rules of charging

Scientists at CSIRO have built the first working quantum-battery prototype, using an optical microcavity with two mirrors spaced 100 nm apart filled with organic dye molecules and driven by a laser. The resulting strong light-matter coupling creates superabsorption, causing the charging rate to increase as the number of molecules—and thus the battery size—grows. Researchers suggest such devices could eventually power quantum computers or consumer electronics, though their practical viability remains debated.