Light emitting diode (LED) structures are described that include a first
layer and a light-generating layer, wherein light generated in the
light-generating layer generally emerges from the LED structure through
the upper surface of the first layer. The coupling out of light generated
by spontaneous emission is enhanced by the presence of patterning in the
first layer, which may take the form of an embedded photonic
quasicrystal, a photonic structure comprising an amorphous array of
subregions, or a zone plate structure. The invention provides the benefit
of improved light extraction from the LED without undesirable far field
illumination patterns.