Generating electricity without input energy — often referred to as “power from nothing” — is fundamentally impossible according to the laws of physics. Even perpetual motion machines, or “ever movers,” which are designed to operate indefinitely without an external energy source, fail to produce usable electricity, as they violate the first and second laws of thermodynamics. However, a recent claim from a Chinese university suggests they may have harnessed principles of quantum physics to achieve highly efficient energy conversion, raising questions that warrant deeper investigation.

In July 2025, scientists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) made headlines for the second time when they announced the successful demonstration of a quantum engine, which, unlike conventional generators, is fueled by quantum entanglement rather than traditional thermal energy.

This irregular idea of entanglement-powered quantum engines first gained experimental traction on April 30, 2024, when CAS’s Innovation Academy of Precision Measurement Science and Technology submitted their research results to Physical Review Letters.

Our study’s highlight is the first experimental realization of a quantum engine with entangled characteristics,” reported by Zhou Fei,

Quantum entanglement is a physical phenomenon in which two or more particles form a shared quantum state, becoming so strongly correlated that the state of one instantly influences the state of the other — regardless of the distance between them. In the CAS experiment, two ultra-cold calcium ions (Ca⁺) were used and confined in an ion trap.

The engine operates on a four-stroke cycle, similar to that of a conventional heat engine, but instead of using thermal energy, it is powered by quantum information. Carefully timed and tuned laser pulses are used to create a highly entangled quantum state, which stores information that can be converted into usable work — effectively acting as a kind of quantum fuel. During the cycle, a laser excites one of the ions, causing it to vibrate more intensely. Because the ions are entangled, this kinetic excitation is transferred to the second ion, even though it is not directly stimulated. This results in a cooperative response, where both ions move in sync, allowing scientists to extract amplified motion from the ion trap and convert it into mechanical work

As the quantum generator is still in its experimental phase, exact statistics regarding its energy efficiency percentage have not yet been publicly disclosed. However, it’s important to note that this is not “free energy” in the traditional sense. The entanglement used to power the engine does not arise spontaneously — it is generated using laser pulses, precise quantum gate operations, and ion cooling, all of which consume energy. Therefore, this method does not violate the laws of quantum thermodynamics, including the conservation of energy.

To stay up to date on the latest developments in quantum engine research and breakthroughs in entanglement-powered energy systems, subscribe to our newsletter — or visit cas.cn for official updates and publications from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and check Physical Review Letters for peer-reviewed releases and experimental findings.