Patent ID: 7501299

Claim:
A method of fabricating a light emitting semiconductor device of a type which emits light in the ultra violet wavelengths from a first surface at which an Al 2 O 3 substrate was originally located comprising: forming a GaN buffer layer over and in contact with said Al 2 O 3 substrate so as to create a bond at the interface between said GaN layer and said Al 2 O 3 substrate; forming a GaN/AlN short period superlattice layer over and in contact with said GaN buffer layer; forming cladding and multiple-quantum-well active layers over said Ga/AlN short period superlattice layer; securing the semiconductor device to a heat sink substrate on a second surface of the semiconductor device opposite said first surface; weakening the bond between the GaN layer and the Al 2 O 3 substrate by irradiating, through the Al 2 O 3 substrate, the interface between the GaN layer and the Al 2 O 3 substrate; physically removing the Al 2 O 3 substrate to thereby expose a surface of the GaN layer; applying a planarizing coating over and in physical contact with the exposed surface of the GaN layer; etching the planarized coating and GaN layer to at least significantly remove both; and etching said GaN/AlN short period superlattice layer such that it is substantially removed to thereby permit access to a surface exposed by said etching of said GaN/AlN short period superlattice layer; to thereby produce said light emitting semiconductor device having said heat sink substrate located at said second surface, and light emission through said first surface.