An improved nitride-based light emitting heterostructure is provided. The nitride-based light emitting heterostructure includes an electron supply layer and a hole supply layer with a light generating structure disposed there between. The light generating structure includes a set of barrier layers, each of which has a graded composition and a set of quantum wells, each of which adjoins at least one barrier layer. Additional features, such as a thickness of each quantum well, can be selected/incorporated into the heterostructure to improve one or more of its characteristics. Further, one or more additional layers that include a graded composition can be included in the heterostructure outside of the light generating structure. The graded composition layer(s) cause electrons to lose energy prior to entering a quantum well in the light generating structure, which enables the electrons to recombine with holes more efficiently in the quantum well.