Addition of tin boosts nanoparticle`s photoluminescence
(PHYSorg.com Nanotechnology)

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Ames Laboratory have developed germanium nanoparticles with improved photoluminescence, making them potentially better materials for solar cells and imaging probes. The research team found that by adding tin to the nanoparticle`s germanium core, its lattice structure better matched the lattice structure of the cadmium-sulfide coating which allows the particles to absorb more light.