Patent ID: 8389305

Claim:
A method of forming ohmic contacts on a light emitting diode having a double hetero-structure configuration, the method comprising: forming an active layer on a gallium nitride substrate, the gallium nitride substrate is GaN; depositing a layer of p-type gallium nitride upon the active layer, the p-type layer comprising magnesium; providing an acid containing solution comprising nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and water; exposing a surface of said p-type gallium nitride to the acid-containing solution, forming a cleaned surface; subjecting the cleaned surface to a buffered oxide etch process, forming an etched surface, the buffered oxide etch process comprising hydrofluoric acid and ammonium fluoride; generating, upon the etched surface, a metal stack including a layer of silver and a layer of platinum; and segmenting an LED from the GaN substrate and overlying layers using a laser.