Batteries are a critical element of achieving zero-carbon electrification. They are required to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation and to obtain grid-scale energy storage for intermittent energy sources such as solar cells or wind. **Improving the energy density** of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries enables applications in electric vehicles and energy storage at an affordable cost. Over the past ten years, however, innovation has stalled - battery energy density improved 50% between 2011 and 2016, but only 25% between 2016 and 2020, and is expected to improve by just 17% between 2020 and 2025. See: [[Future of Batteries MOC]] | [[Rethinking Lithium Ion Batteries]] | [[Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries]] Recent research ^[https://journals.aps.org/prresearch/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.023019] has shown that quantum computing will be able to simulate the chemistry of batteries in ways that can’t be achieved now. Quantum computing could allow breakthroughs by providing a **better understanding of electrolyte complex formation**, by helping to find a *replacement material* for cathode/anode with the same properties and/or by *eliminating the battery separator*. As a result, we could create batteries with 50% higher energy density for use in heavy-goods electric vehicles, which could substantially bring forward their economic use. The carbon benefits to passenger EVs wouldn’t be huge, as these vehicles are expected to reach cost parity in many countries before the first generation of fault tolerant quantum computers are online, but consumers might still enjoy cost savings. In addition, higher-density energy batteries can serve as a grid-scale storage solution. The impact on the world’s grids could be transformative. Halving the cost of grid-scale storage could enable a step change in the use of solar power, which is becoming economically competitive but is challenged by its generation profile. Halving the cost of solar panels could increase their use by 25% in Europe by 2050 but halving both solar and batteries might increase solar use by 60%. Geographies without a high carbon price will see even greater impacts. ---- ### Superabsorption Quantum Batteries Quantum batteries, based on superabsorption, could revolutionize vehicle charging by reducing charging times as battery size increases. Dr. James Q. Quach from the University of Adelaide explains that these batteries use quantum mechanics to enhance their capabilities, meaning larger batteries charge faster. The key lies in organic semiconductor materials in a microcavity, where molecules work together through quantum superposition. As the microcavity and molecule count grow, charging time decreases ^[https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abk3160] See: [[Quantum x Battery Simulations]]