Graphene can now be used to store energy in a quantum battery that harvests work from the strange behavior of bound particles.
April 29, 2026
Original Paper
Phase-controlled Andreev bound state dynamics in graphene SNS junctions: implications for energy storage
SSRN · 6659398
The Takeaway
Superconductors usually just carry current without resistance, but they can also trap particles in specific states called Andreev bound states. This research demonstrates that these trapped states can be manipulated to store and release electrical work. By controlling the phase of these particles in graphene junctions, engineers can create a new kind of solid-state energy storage. This system is much more stable and coherent than traditional batteries. It offers a potential path toward powering quantum computers and other ultra-sensitive electronics using their own internal physics.
From the abstract
We present a theoretical analysis of a graphene superconductor–normal–superconductor (SNS) Josephson junction, focusing on the phase-controlled dynamics of Andreev bound states (ABS). We show that time-dependent superconducting phase ramps drive nonadiabatic transitions across the avoided level crossing, leading to population inversion in the ABS manifold via Landau–Zener dynamics. This non-equilibrium occupation results in finite extractable work, which we quantify using the ergotropy formalism