Recent experimental electroluminescence obtained from porous Si and sp
ark-processed Si shows promising visible intensity and the possibility
of durability. The theoretical considerations that determine the inte
nsity of radiation from nano-particle Si are described. These include
the probabilities of radiative and competing non-radiative processes.
It is concluded that there are no fundamental reasons why visible, ade
quately intense and durable electroluminescence cannot be achieved fro
m Si, for integration with Si-based circuit technology.