Optoelectronic devices and methods for their fabrication having enhanced and controllable rates of the radiative relaxation of triplet light emitters are provided exemplified by organic light emitting devices based on phosphorescent materials with enhanced emission properties. Acceleration of the radiative processes is achieved by the interaction of the light emitting species with surface plasmon resonances in the vicinity of metal surfaces. Non-radiative Frster-type processes are efficiently suppressed by introducing a transparent dielectric or molecular layer between the metal surface and the chromophore. For materials with low emission oscillator strengths (such as triplet emitters), the optimal separation distance from the metal surface is determined, thus suppressing energy transfer and achieving a significant acceleration of the emission rate.