Integrating photoluminescent nanomaterials with photonic nanostructures

Abstract

Photoluminescence is a light-matter interaction phenomenon of utmost interest for research and technological innovation. Luminescent materials posses several characteristics, such as the quantum yield, Stokes shift, bandwidth, energy transfer coefficients and lifetime of excited states, among others. These factors, though dependent on intrinsic properties of each material, are not immutable; they are highly sensitive to the optical constraints imposed by its surroundings. In particular, nearby surfaces can modify the local electromagnetic field and the density of optical states, strongly affecting the luminescent emission spectrum, intensity and directionality. Different strategies have been developed to control the emission of molecular or nano-sized photoluminescent materials, making use of recent progress in the field of plasmonics, photonic crystals and optical microcavities. The purpose of this article is to summarize the fundamental underlying physical concepts leading to modified photoluminescent properties, as well as to review the latest experimental advances aiming for the synergistic combination of luminescent nano-sources and either photonic or plasmonic nanostructures. Special attention to hybrid structures, such as those combining plasmonics and photonic crystals, will also be addressed.