An epitaxial structure for the GaN-based LED is provided. The GaN-based LED uses
a substrate usually made of sapphire or silicon-carbide (SiC). On top of the substrate,
the GaN-based LED contains an n-type contact layer made of an n-type GaN-based
material. On top of the n-type contact layer, the GaN-based LED further contains
a lower barrier layer covering part of the surface of the n-type contact layer.
A negative electrode is also on top of and has an ohmic contact with the n-type
contact layer in an area not covered by the lower barrier layer. On top of the
lower barrier layer, the GaN-based LED then further contains an active layer made
of aluminum-gallium-indium-nitride, an upper barrier layer, a p-type contact layer
made of a magnesium (Mg)-doped GaN material, and a positive electrode having an
ohmic contact with the p-type contact layer, sequentially stacked in this order
from bottom to top. Within this structure, each of the barrier layers further contains,
from bottom to top, a first AlGaInN layer, a SiN layer, and a second AlGaInN layer.