Nanoparticles doped with TM and RE ions for applications in optoelectronics

Nanoparticles of wide band gap compounds, when doped with rare earth or transition metal ions, are perspective candidates for efficient phosphors in a new generation of light sources for an overhead illumination, i.e., in compact fluorescence lamps and in semiconductor-based white light emitting diodes. Mechanisms of emission enhancement in doped nanoparticles are discussed based on the relevant experimental results. Mechanisms observed are due to carrier confinement, n-type co-doping, due to surface plasmons generation and super radiance. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.