Solid state lighting devices with cellular arrays and associated methods of manufacturing

A method for forming a light emitting diode, the method comprising:

• disposing a first semiconductor material on a microelectronic substrate, the first semiconductor material having a first surface facing toward the microelectronic substrate and a second surface facing away from the first surface;
• forming an array of wells extending into the first semiconductor material from the second surface toward the first surface, with the individual wells having a hexagonal cross section in a plane parallel to the second surface;
• forming an active region in direct contact with the first semiconductor material;
• and
• forming a second semiconductor material in direct contact with the active region at a side of the active region opposite to a side of the active region in direct contact with the first semiconductor material, at least a portion of the second semiconductor material being located within the wells.

A method for forming a light emitting diode, the method comprising:

• disposing a semiconductor material on a microelectronic substrate, the semiconductor material having a first surface facing toward the microelectronic substrate and a second surface facing away from the first surface;
• disposing a mask material on the second surface;
• forming an array of apertures in the disposed mask material;
• forming an array of wells extending into the semiconductor material from the second surface toward the first surface by etching the semiconductor material using a first etching process followed by a second etching process, the first and second etching processes having different anisotropies;
• and
• forming an active region in direct contact with the semiconductor material, at least a portion of the active region being located within the wells.