Stable electroluminescence of nanostructured silicon embedded into anodic alumina

An electroluminescent structure based on nanostructured silicon embedded in a layer of anodic alumina has been suggested and fabricated. The heat conductivity of the alumina matrix markedly exceeds that of the silicon-containing insulators. The effective heat removal makes it possible to attain a 0.5% quantum efficiency of electroluminescence, which is comparable with the best parameters of silicon-based light-emitting devices. The physical phenomena responsible for the emission of light by the structure under study are considered.