A light emitting diode device (LED) is provided. The LED comprises a first-doped layer on a substrate, an active layer on the first-doped layer, a second-doped layer on the active layer, and a metal layer on the second-doped layer. The second-doped layer is patterned on a surface opposite to the active layer to define a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the second-doped layer has a first portion thickness constrained for electron-hole pairs in the active layer to couple efficiently to a surface plasmon mode at an interface of the metal layer and the second-doped layer thereby increasing the spontaneous emission rate of the LED. The second portion of the second-doped layer has a second portion thickness sufficient to ensure formation of a p-n junction in the LED.