Patent ID: 7799600

Claim:
A method of making an LED device, comprising: forming epitaxially a substantially single crystal SiC layer on a substantially single crystal Si wafer; forming epitaxially a substantially single crystal diamond layer on the SiC layer; doping the diamond layer to form a p-type conductive diamond layer; removing the Si wafer to expose the SiC layer opposite to the diamond layer; depositing epitaxially a plurality of semiconductor layers on the SiC layer such that at least one of the semiconductive layers contacts the SiC layer; and coupling an n-type electrode to at least one of the semiconductor layers, such that the plurality of semiconductor layers is functionally located between the p-type conductive diamond layer and the n-type electrode, wherein forming an epitaxial layer of a substantially single crystal diamond layer further includes compositionally grading a surface of the Si wafer from Si to SiC to form the SiC layer, and compositionally grading a surface of the SiC layer to diamond to form the diamond layer.