IonQ and Hyundai Partner to Study Use of Quantum Computing for Researching Battery Chemistry

The two companies will study the use of new variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) algorithms to characterize different lithium compounds and the chemical reactions that could be use in battery chemistry. There have been other quantum research projects announced in the past involving battery chemistry including one between IBM and Daimler and another one between Toyota and Qunasys, however IonQ indicated that their new project will be the most advanced model to date as measured by the number of qubits and gates used. In addition, the IonQ/Hyundai research will include other lithium-based battery chemistries, including Lithium-Oxide (or Lithium-Air), whereas the IBM/Daimler study only looked at Lithium-Sulfur batteries. A Lithium-Air battery would be lighter which could provide a potential advantage in a mobile vehicle. The IonQ/Hyundai simulations will require at least 12 qubits and will be able to utilize all the quantum computers commercially available at IonQ, including System 5, the latest system in private beta. Using quantum computing to discover new types of battery chemistries can have a large commercial value due to the push to increase the production and reduce the cost of batteries for use in both electric vehicles and the electrical grid to help combat global warming. In addition, the simulation of all the interactions that can take place at the molecular level are too complex for a classical computer to perform accurately. You can read the announcement provided by IonQ and Hyunda in a post located on the IonQ website here. IonQ has also posted a blog titled "Improving Battery Chemistry with Quantum Computing" that you can find here.

January 19, 2022