Using the self-alignment lithography and electroplating techniques, a lateral-electrodes GaN light-emitting diode (LED) with a microreflective cup and heat spreader has been demonstrated. The photoresist is used to be the electroplating forms and to produce the microreflective cup and heat spreader. Under 1 A injection, this type of LED presents an output power of 700 mW and a power conversion efficiency is up to two times as compared to that of the LEDs only on sapphire without a current spreader. The performance of LEDs with a microreflective cup and heat spreader is better than the vertical-electrode LEDs on Cu substrate. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.