Broad band light-emitting nanostructured substrates by ion beam irradiation of lithium fluoride crystals

We present experimental results on simultaneous surface nanostructuring and optical activation of lithium fluoride crystals by 800 eV off-normal Ar+ sputtering. Our data demonstrate that the formation of periodic nanostructures is accompanied by the efficient production of stable electronic defects, optically active in the green and red parts of the visible spectra, thus providing the possibility to conceive and fabricate advanced insulating substrates.