The phenomenon of surfactant (Sb) mediated formation of Ge/Si(100) islands (quantum dots) by means of molecular beam epitaxy is discussed. The limited diffusivity of Si and Ge adatoms caused by the Sb layer leads to a reduction of the size of Ge islands, the increase in the island density, and the sharpening of the interfaces of Ge islands. Thereby, a thin Sb layer is considered to be a powerful tool that provides more freedom in designing Ge quantum dot features. Ge quantum dots, grown via a thin Sb layer and embedded coherently in a Si p-n junction, are revealed to be the origin of the intense photo-and electroluminescence in the spectral range of about 1.5 mu m at room temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.