Sci Reports published paper on optical quatnum random number generator

On-Demand Optical Quantum Random Number Generator with Ultra-Fast Response

The study was published by online journal Scientific Reports (IF 5.578) of the Nature Publishing Group.

Mario Stipčević from the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) and his colleague Rupert Ursinfrom the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information, Austrian Academy of Sciences, developed a new model of a quantum random number generator (QRNG). This device provides an ultra-fast response upon a bit request (9.8 ns) with 100 percent efficiency upon the trigger, and in-future-of-request random action. None of the generators or generating principles known so far satisfied all those requirements simultaneously to that extent.

On-Demand Optical Quantum Random Number Generator with Ultra-Fast Response

The device works on the principle similar to a coin toss bearing in mind that the process of flipping and reading a coin takes a very short time and the coin never flips away from your hands. With a given state of technology this new QRNG could be reduced to the size of the chip, which would open opportunities for a wide range of applications. This study was published by online journal Scientific Reports (IF 5.578) of the Nature Publishing Group.

Digital data processing in computers, mobile devices or ATM machines has a huge impact on our modern information-based society. Random numbers are essential for cryptographic protocols which are necessary to ensure security, privacy and integrity of communicated data.

Random number generators are essential components for a wide range of applications such as: cryptographic data protection, scientific research, simulations, or real and virtual casinos and online games. For example, in security systems they provide secret keys or tokens for authentications and encryption. They are commonly classified by the source of their randomness.

Unlike frequently used pseudo-random generators, physical random number generators do not depend on complex algorithms, but rather on a physical process to provide true randomness, which means that physical random numbers generators derive random numbers from a physical source of reasonably random process e.g. flipping a coin. This makes them more reliable, since their behaviour could not be replicated in a reasonable amount of time as in the case of pseudo-random generators.

”However, our primary motivation in this study was solving the fundamental problems of quantum entanglement.” – explained Stipčević, a senior research associate in the RBI Laboratory for electromagnetic and weak interactions and Head of the Research Unit for Photonics and Quantum Optics of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Sensors (CEMS).

MStipcevic - RUrsin

In this paper titled: “An On-Demand Optical Quantum Random Number Generator with In-Future Action and Ultra-Fast Response” the scientists presented a conceptually simple implementation, which offered a 100 percent efficiency of producing a random bit upon a request and simultaneously exhibited an ultra-low latency.

”We presented a novel type of QRNG which randomness can be obtained by suitable tuning the device controllable parameters in function of the hardware imperfections. It is unique in simultaneously satisfying three characteristics: a very short latency between the random bit request signal and the moment when the bit is generated, all physical processes relevant to generation of a bit happen after the request signal and with a 100 percent efficiency of producing a bit upon a request.

On top of that, we estimated deviation of the QRNG from perfect randomness and demonstrated that generated sequences of random bits pass NIST Statistical Test Suite (STS)1 without post-processing.” – concluded Stipčević and Ursin.

Talks and Publications

Complete (and updated) list of published articles is available HERE.

Invited conference talks:

• Diamond membrane detectors, Milko Jakšić, 9th International Conference on New Diamond and Nano Carbons (NDNC-2015), Shizuoka, Japan (May 24 – 28, 2015)
• Formation and tailoring of metal and semiconductor quantum dots in amorphous matrices by MeV ions, Iva Bogdanović Radović, 22nd International Conference on Ion Surface Interaction, Moscow, Russia (August 20 – 24, 2015)
• MeV-SIMS spectrometry – novel heavy ion microbeam technique for cultural heritage studies and molecular imaging of thin samples with sub-micrometer spatial resolution, Zdravko Siketić, 13th International Symposium on Radiation Physics (ISRP-13), Beijing, China (September 7 – 11, 2015)
• Masena spektrometrija sekundarnih molekularnih iona pomoću iona MeVskih energija (MeV SIMS) – nova metoda za karakterizaciju modernih slikarskih materijala, Iva Bogdanović Radović, 9. Znanstveni sastanak hrvatskog fizikalnog društva, Umag, Hrvatska (5.-7.10.2015.)
• Capabilities of the RBI accelerator facility for the ion microbeam probing of charge collection properties in radiation detectors, Milko Jakšić, 11th International Workshop on Radiation Effects on Semiconductor Devices for Space Applications, Kiryu, Japan (November 11 – 13, 2015)
• Irradiation Defects in Diamond – Studies of Single Crystal Diamond Membranes Using Ion Microbeam, Milko Jakšić, International Union of Materials Research Societies – International Conference on Electronic Materials (IUMRS-ICEM 2016), Singapore (July 4-8, 2016)
• Single ion microprobe techniques, current status and perspectives, Milko Jakšić, 15th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA), Lanzhou, China (July 31 – August 5, 2016)
• Molecular imaging of biological and cultural heritage samples using MeV-SIMS, Zdravko Siketić, 24th Conference on Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry (CAARI), Fort Worth, Texas, USA (30th Oct. – 4th Nov., 2016.)
• Two modes for molecular imaging using MeV SIMS at the heavy ion microprobe, Zdravko Siketić, 12th European Conference on Accelerators in Applied Research and Technology (ECAART12), Jyvaskyla, Finland (4 Jul 2016)
• TOF-ERDA Spectrometry promoted by 1 keV Ar sputtering, Zdravko Siketić, 23rd International Conference on Ion Beam Analysis (IBA), Shanghai, China (Oct. 8-13, 2017.)
• Lipidomic analysis of the healthy and diabetic mouse liver and serum using MeV-SIMS, Zdravko Siketić, 21st International Conference on Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS21), Krakow, Poland (September 10-15,  2017.)
• Chemical imaging of the healthy and diabetic mouse liver using MeV TOF-SIMS, Zdravko Siketić, 16th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA2018), Guildford, UK (July 8-13, 2018.)
• Laboratory for Ion Beam Interactions-Research, Development & Applications, Zdravko Siketić, 2nd ENSAF Workshop, Athens, Greece (October 3-5, 2018.)
• Extreme Radiation Hardness and Signal Recovery in Thin Diamond Detectors, Natko Skukan, 16th International Conference on Nuclear Microprobe Technology and Applications (ICNMTA2018), Guildford, UK (July 8-13, 2018.)

Selected publications:

Submicron mass spectrometry imaging of single cells by combined use of mega electron volt time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and scanning transmission ion microscopy, Z. Siketić, I. Bogdanović Radović, M. Jakšić, M. Popović Hadžija, and M. Hadžija, Applied Physics Letters 107 (2015) 093702
Electroluminescence from nitrogen-vacancy and interstitial-related centers in bulk diamond stimulated by ion-beam-fabricated sub-superficial graphitic micro-electrodes, J. Forneris, S. Ditalia Tchernij, A. Battiato, F. Picollo, A. Tengattini, V. Grilj, N. Skukan, G. Amato, L. Boarino, I. P. Degiovanni, E. Enrico, P.Traina, M. Jakšić, M. Genovese, P. Olivero, accepted in Scientific Reports (2015)
Response of GaN to energetic ion irradiation: conditions for ion track formation, M. Karlušić, R. Kozubek, H. Lebius, B. Ban-d’Etat, R. A. Wilhelm, M. Buljan, Z. Siketić, F. Scholz, T. Meisch, M. Jakšić, S. Bernstorff, M. Schleberger and B. Šantić, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 48 (2015) 325304
Measurements of proton induced γ-ray emission cross sections on MgF2 target in the energy range 1.95-3.05 MeV, I. Zamboni, Z. Siketić, M. Jakšić, I. Bogdanović Radović, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B342 (2015) 266–270
Ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) system for imaging of radiation-induced changes in materials, N. Marković, Z. Siketić, D. Cosić, H.K. Jung, N.H. Lee, W.T. Han, M. Jakšić, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B343 (2015) 167-172.
Proton-radiation resistance of poly(ethylene terephthalate) – nanodiamond – graphene nanoplatelet nanocomposites, V. Borjanović, L. Bistričić, I. Pucić, L. Mikac, R. Slunjski, M. Jakšić, G. McGuire, A. Tomas Stanković, O. Shenderova, J. Mat. Sci. (2015)
Nanostructuring graphene by dense electronic excitation, O. Ochedowski, O. Lehtinen, U. Kaiser, A. Turchanin, B. Ban-d´Etat, H. Lebius, M. Karlusic, M. Jaksic, M. Schleberger, Nanotechnology 26 (2015) 465302
Spectroscopic properties and radiation damage investigation of a diamond based Shottky diode for ion-beam therapy microdosimetry, Claudio Verona, Giulio Magrin, Paola Solevi, Veljko Grilj, Milko Jaksic, Ramona Mayer, Marco Marinelli, and Gianluca Verona Rinati, accepted in J. Appl. Phys. (2015).
Ion beam analysis of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cells, A.G. Karydas, C. Streeck, I. Bogdanovic Radovic, C. Kaufmann, T. Rissom, B. Beckhoff, M. Jaksic, N.P. Barradas, Applied Surface Science, 356 (2015) 631-638
Charge multiplication effect in thin diamond films, N. Skukan, V. Grilj, I. Sudić, M. Pomorski, W. Kada, T. Makino, Y. Kambayashi, Y. Andoh, S. Onoda, S. Sato, T. Ohshima, T. Kamiya and M. Jakšić , Appl. Phys. Lett. 109, 043502 (2016)
• Formation of swift heavy ion tracks on a rutile TiO2 (001) surface, M. Karlušić, S. Bernstorff, Z. Siketić, B. Šantić, I. Bogdanović-Radović, M. Jakšić, M. Schleberger, M. Buljan, J. Appl. Cryst. (2016). 49, 1704-1712
• Single-Photon-Emitting Optical Centers in Diamond Fabricated upon Sn Implantation, S. Ditalia Tchernij, T. Herzig, J. Forneris, J. Küpper, S. Pezzagna, P. Traina, E. Moreva, I. P. Degiovanni, G. Brida, N. Skukan, M. Genovese, M. Jaksič, J. Meijer, P. Olivero, ACS Photonics, 2017, 4 (10)
• Creating nanoporous graphene with swift heavy ions, H. Vázquez, E.H. Åhlgren, O. Ochedowski, A.A. Leino, R. Mirzayev, R. Kozubek, H. Lebius, M. Karlušic, M. Jakšic, A.V. Krasheninnikov, J. Kotakoski, M. Schleberger, K. Nordlund, F. Djurabekova, Carbon 119 (2017) 200

Research topics

Scientific objectives of the proposal follow recommendation for research directions of the Nuclear Physics European Collaboration Committee (NUPECC), an Expert Committee of the European Science Foundation. More specifically, research objectives of the proposed Center of excellence include:
1) In research of ion beam interaction with matter, to explore processes related to ion impact to materials surface, which are still not well described (such as secondary electron emission and ion desorption), and which strongly depend on projectile type and energy. This is relevant for ion beam analysis techniques, which are sensitive to molecular composition. In the study of processes of charge collection in radiation detector materials, ion induced defects that degrade charge transport properties could also be beneficial and of technological importance as well.
2) In materials research, investigations will be focused on nanoscale changes in the materials followed upon the ion impact. Formation of surface nano-features and modifications of 2D materials (graphene) will be induced by single MeV heavy ions, while higher fluences will be required for investigations of processes that drive ion assisted assembly of nanostructured materials. Future research will clearly benefit from strong momentum those two recently opened research directions have.
3) In nuclear physics research to enlarge understanding of collective phenomena in nuclear structure (nucleon pairing and clustering) and reaction dynamics (multi-nucleon transfers at low energy), interaction between deformed and loosely bound nuclei, structure of neutron-rich nuclei and light nuclei reactions with significant effect on astrophysical phenomena. Important goal is enlarged contribution in development and testing of research infrastructure, including those for experiments at large international laboratories, which is closely related to objectives of other two research groups.

Members

Division of experimental physics:
Laboratory for ion beam interactions
– Milko Jakšić, senior scientist, head of research unit
– Stjepko Fazinić, senior research associate
– Iva Bogdanović Radović, senior scientist
– Zdravko Siketić, research associate
– Tonči Tadić, senior research associate
Laboratory for nuclear physics
– Neven Soić, senior scientist
– Suzana Szilner, senior scientist
– Mile Zadro, senior scientist

Division of materials physics
– Maja Buljan, research associate
– Ivana Capan, senior research associate
– Marko Karlušić, research associate

University of Zagreb, Faculty of science, Department of physics
– Matko Milin, professor

Equipment

RBI accelerator facility consists of two accelerators, 1.0 and 6.0 MV electrostatic tandem accelerators (HVEC EN Tandem Van de Graaff and 1.0 MV HVE Tandetron) as well as 8 beam lines. One of the beam lines can accept simultaneously ion beams from both accelerators.

new-SNICSTDT-Zagreb

EN Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator has three ion sources, namely RF source with charge exchange for He ions, multi-cathode sputtering ion source for variety of ion species (H, Li, B, C, O, Si, Cl, Cu, Br, Au, etc.) and finally a home built sputtering source for rare beams including short lived radioactive beams.

Tandetron accelerator is equipped with direct extraction duoplasmatron source (for negative hydrogen ions) and sputtering ion source used for other ions (typically Li, C, O, Si, and heavier).

RBI-target room
Presently, there are nine available end stations.

End stations that can accept ions from both accelerators are (from right to left):
– Nuclear microprobe facility
– Nuclear reactions scattering chamber
– High resolution PIXE spectrometer
– TOF ERDA
– IAEA beam line
– Irradiation and detector testing
– Dual beam irradiation and RBS channeling

End stations that can accept ions only from Tandetron accelerator are:
– In air PIXE
– PIXE/RBS end station

Facility is equipped with mechanical and electronic workshops, sample preparation equipment and several other sample characterization techniques.

Research topics

The first goal of the proposed NFM is to stimulate research in advanced materials science and engineering through facilitation of inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research groups of the Centre. The proposed researcher activities at NFM for each proposed area in the 5 yrs period is based on the synergetic effect of involved research groups/laboratories based on the focusing on the best existing research thematic as well as by opening of new hot research topics that promise fast developments of scientific excellences and new high technology products. The proposed enhancing of the cooperation of researchers within the Center will be focused within the following three research programmes: 

P1. Silicon nanostructures for advanced applications (leader M. Ivanda)

P2. Sol-gel technology for new functional materials   (leader M. Ristić)

P3. Nanostructural materials for energetic (leader N. Radić)

 

Within the first programme P1. Silicon nanostructures for advanced applications the research will be focused on nanostructural silicon thin films for advanced applications. The Low Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) and Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) developed at Ivanda’s group will be used for deposition thin films and wires of silicon, silicon reach oxide, silicon reach nitride, amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, doping with boron, phosphorus, erbium and europium on flat silicon, quartz glass and alumina substrates as well as on silica microspheres. The porous silicon will be prepared by anodisation process. The structural, optical, electrical and transport properties will be investigating. The research work will be carried out under following projects that will be leaded by M. Ivanda:

T1. Low dimensional silicon for chemical sensing,

T2. Silicon thermoelectric element

T3. Novel silicon based materials for photonics

 T4. Development of new Raman scattering techniques

Within the second programme P2. Sol-gel technology for new functional materials the research on the synthesis of diversity of nanocrystals and nanostructures and their possible applications will be performed. Mechanisms of the precipitation of metal oxides for sensing such as iron oxides and Me-doped iron oxides will be investigated. Novel metallic nanoparticles in the form of colloidal suspensions for biomedical applications will be synthesized and analysed. An apparatus for the synthesis of nanowires will be built. The green-chemistry routes will be used in the synthesis of metal oxide and metallic nanoparticles. Characterization of structural, particulate, and surface properties of the synthesized materials will be performed by well established techniques. The research work will be carried out under following projects:

T1. Nanocrystalline metal oxides for chemical sensing (leader M. Ristić)

T2. Nanoparticles for the use in medical application (leader M. Gotić)

T3. Low dimensional 1D and 2D metal oxides for new functional materials (leader M. Ristić)

T4. R&D of novel multiferroic materials (leader I. Đerđ)

The main goal of the third programme P3. Nanostructural materials for energetic is investigation of preparation, structural properties and application of nano-based materials prepared by magnetron sputtering deposition. The prime interest is investigation of recently invented materials based on self assembled nanoparticles in amorphous matrices. These materials are discovered and developed by our group in the recent few years. They consist of regularly ordered nano-objects of different composition (metallic, semiconductor, and mixed) embedded in various amorphous matrices (alumina, silica, mullite). These materials have a great potential for application in various nanotechnology fields. The most promising applications of semiconductor quantum dots are super-efficient solar cells and photodetectors. Metallic nanoparticles are of great interest for different, today very popular, spintronic applications. The mixed nanoparticles are expected to have some extraordinary properties like electric-field tuneable magnetic properties for the case of semiconductor-metallic mixture. Additional advantage of these materials is regular ordering of nanoparticles in them. It is well known that in such systems are expected some collective behaviour effects, which enable engineering and design of the materials opto-electrical properties. Additionally, our most-recent activities resulted in development of nanomaterials which show extraordinary capability to store hydrogen. These materials are of great interest for energy storage. The main objective of the programme is to become a Croatian center for preparation, characterization and application of these extraordinary nano-based materials. The activities of the programme will be realised under the 3 projects:

T1. Semiconductor quantum dots (leader M. Buljan)

T2. Metallic nanoparticles (leader N. Radić)

T3. Materials for hydrogen storage (leader N. Radić)

Members

1.Laboratorij za molekulsku fiziku i sinteze novih materijala, IRB: voditelj laboratorija: M. Ivanda, M. Gotić, G. Štefanić, (znanstveni savjetnici) V. Mohaček Grošev (viši znanstveni sur.),  A. Šarić, A. Maksimović, D. Ristić i H. Gebavi  (znanstveni sur.), V. Đerek (postdoktorand), L. Mikac (znanstvena suradnica), J. Forić (tehničar), aktivni znanstvenici u mirovini: D. Risović i S. Lugomer (znanstveni savjetnici)  +  2 doktoranda

2.Laboratorij za sintezu novih materijala, IRB: voditelj grupe M. Ristić (znanstveni savjetnik), S. Krehula (viši znanstveni sur.), Ž. Petrović (znanstveni sur.),  M. Marciuš (stručni suradnik), IRB emeritus: S. Musić (znanstveni savjetnik).

3.Laboratorij za tanke filmove, IRB: voditelj laboratorija M. Buljan (viši znanstveni sur.), T. Car (znanstveni sur.), tehničar,  aktivni znanstvenik u mirovini: N. Radić (znanstveni savjetnik).

4.Laboratorij za sintezu i kristalografiju funkcionalnih materijala, IRB: voditelj laboratorija J. Popović, I. Đerđ (viši znanstveni sur.),  M. Vrankić (viši znanstveni asistent).

5.Članovi drugih laboratorija IRB-a:  Nikola Biliškov (znanstveni sur.), Laboratorij za kemiju čvrstog stanja i kompleksnih spojeva; D. Vojta (znanstvena suradnica), Laboratorij za fizikalno organsku kemiju; G. Baranović (znanstveni savjetnik, aktivni znanstvenik u mirovini), Laboratorij za molekulsku spektroskopiju:), A. Gajović (znanstveni savjetnik), Laboratorij materijala za konverziju energije i senzore, T. Jurkin  (znanstvena suradnica) Laboratorij za radijacijsku kemiju i dozimetriju

6.Končar – Institut za elektrotehniku d.d.: direktor instituta S. Marijan (znanstveni suradnik), D. Vrsaljko (viši asistent), T. Karažija (znanstveni novak), V. Đurina (znanstveni novak).

7.Institut za fiziku: voditelj grupe D. Starešinić (viši znanstveni suradnik), aktivni znanstvenik u mirovini: M. Očko (znanstveni savjetnik).

8.Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Medicinski fakultet, Zavod za fiziku: voditelj zavoda O. Gamulin (docent), S. Dolanski-Babić (docent), M. Škrebić (viši  znanstveni asistent).

Equipment

The capital equipment at Ivanda’s research group:

  1. Raman spectrometer Jobin Yvon T64000 with INNOVA 400 argon laser,
  2. LPCVD system,
  3. PVD – Varian,
  4. Evaporator e-beam –Varian,
  5. Scanning electron microscope JEOL  T300,
  6. Diffusion oven with 3 reactors,
  7. Elipsometer Rudolph Auto EL IV,
  8. X-ray diffractometer for thin films Siemens D 5000 (not shown on photo).

Ivanda-kapitalna oprema

The capital equipment at Ristic’s research group:

  1. Field Emission – Scanning electron microscope Jeol 7000F,
  2. Mössbauer spectrometer,
  3. X-ray difractometer ItalStructures APD2000,
  4. FT-IR spektrometar PerkinElmer System 2000,
  5. UV-VS-NIR spectrometer with integrated sphere.

Ristic-kapitalna oprema

The capital equipment at Radic’s research group:

  1. Magnetron sputtering CMS 18, (acquired 2006)
  2. X-ray diffractometer for thin films Siemens D 5000 (not shown on photo).

Radic-sputtering sistem

The capital equipment at Baranovic’s research groups:

1. Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FTIR), ABB Bomem MB102.

Baranovic IR spectrometer

Publications

  1. Enhanced near-infrared response of nano- and microstructured silicon/organic hybrid photodetectors
    Vedran Đerek, Eric Daniel Głowacki, Mykhailo Sytnyk, Wolfgang Heiss, Marijan Marciuš, Mira Ristić, Mile Ivanda and Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci
    Appl. Phys. Lett. 107, 083302 (2015); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4929841

Research topics

G2D mosaic green_LRThe G2D draws its strength upon synergy of researchers with versatile expertise in condensed matter physics, optics and photonics, soft-matter physics, solid state chemistry, ion-beam physics, and material science. This expertise and synergy provides a promise for discoveries of new phenomena in 2D materials, and potentially their applications. Particular topics to be investigated aim at (opto)mechanical, optoelectronic, spintronic, bioelectronic, capacitor, and photovoltaic applications.

Synthesis

All large scale applications require synthesis (in large amounts) of large area 2D materials. We will explore and improve different methods of synthesis. The CVD method will be exploited under various conditions (vacuum, low pressure, atmospheric pressure) and optimised for the growth of large area (~few cm2) graphene, TMD, and h-BN single-crystal layers on metallic and other types of substrates; we will develop methods of functionalization (modify shapes, electronic properties, etc…) in electronic, optoelectronic and bioelectronic devices. We will develop transfer procedures based on novel carrier polymers and solvents which were not yet exploited, in order to obtain high-quality devices for characterization of optical and (opto)mechanical properties or to obtain high-quality electrode for solar cells. We will also develop mechanochemical methods to synthesize large amounts of 2D material, which offers greater control of the reaction course over traditional methods by establishing novel methods of high-throughput synthesis e.g. for the optimization of graphene anode in supercapacitors. Finally, we plan to produce more complex samples and by this we aim at specific properties and functionality of these complex structures. This will involve production of hybrid structures like DNA arrays on template graphene; samples and devices intercalated by magnetic or other desired proximity property materials; heterostructures obtained by combination of graphene and/or TMD and/or h-BN layers; transparent electrodes for quantum-dots based novel photovoltaic applications; defect engineered graphene and 2D materials.

Characterization

We apply a broad chain of characterization methods aiming at different physical properties. Basic sample characterization is provided through the application of Raman micro spectroscopy (Raman), scanning- and transmission-electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy (STM, AFM) characterization, and additional techniques, such as x-ray diffraction, or grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering. In addition, more specialized experiments are envisioned to explore: optical properties of 2D materials (photodetection, photoluminescence, photoexcited carriers); macroscopic elastic properties, e.g. wrinkles and more complicated forms in porous graphite with an experimental insight obtained in newly established Laboratory for extreme mechanics; electronic transport and electronic band structure of different samples by transport methods and photoelectron spectroscopies; efficiency of 2D materials as electrodes in the photovoltaic elements; performance of graphene anode obtained from high-throughput synthesis; porosimetry for samples relevant for gas storing.

Modelling

Theoretical calculations are performed to study various electric, optical and mechanical properties of graphene and 2D materials by using the most up-to-date methods and techniques including DFT calculations (numerical), density-matrix theory calculation of the AC conductivity (perturbation theory), finite-difference time-domain Maxwell equations (numerical calculation of the optical properties of graphene based devices), and theory of elasticity (mechanical properties). In addition, for more complex structures e.g. transistors, electrodes such as gates will be implemented in vdW-DF methodology to model or predict properties of rechargeable batteries, solar cell materials, thermoelectrics and so on.