LIGHT-EMITTING SILICON, RECENT PROGRESS

Recent results concerning selected optical and mainly transport proper ties of light-emitting silicon are critically reviewed. A shea discuss ion is devoted to the question of the nature of the optical gap in por ous silicon (direct/indirect). Special attention is given to the trans port mechanism in strongly luminescent nanoporous silicon. It is concl uded that the existence of tail states is crucial for the transport an d a three-layer model of silicon nanoparticles is presented. Prospects for electroluminescent devices based on light-emitting silicon are ev aluated from the point of view of their efficiency and stability.