Enhanced light emission in nanostructures

Abstract

The enhancement of light emissive processes in different quantum nanometric systems is presented in this review. The plasmonic enhanced photoluminescence (fluorescence) of metals and metal nanoparticles, molecules and semiconductor nanostructures, as well as surface-enhanced Raman scattering is initially considered. The enhancement of excitonic photoluminescence intensity in semiconductor confined systems such as quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots, and microcavities are then discussed. Finally, the experimental results of the enhanced exciton photoluminescence from GaAs homojunctions, δ-doped GaAs structures, GaAs/AlGaAs selectively doped and AlInN/GaN heterostuctures is presented. These results can be applied to enhance the emission of light-emitting diodes, as well as to increase the efficiency of solar cells.