Quantum batteries, devices that store energy by exploiting quantum mechanical phenomena, could, in principle, be charged faster and more efficiently than classical ones. Despite their potential, connecting these batteries to chargers is known to create quantum correlations that can trap some energy inside the combined battery-charger system. This can reduce useful work, or the energy available to complete a task that can be extracted from the battery alone.

Researchers at the University of Insubria & INFN, University of Genova & CNR-SPIN and University of Milan recently proposed a new design strategy that could potentially increase the usable energy of quantum batteries. Their approach, outlined in a paper in Physical Review Letters, involves connecting both a battery and its charger to a shared environment that is continuously monitored.

“Quantum technologies—including quantum batteries—are usually designed under the assumption that the environment is the enemy,” the authors told Phys.org.