Data are presented showing that the native oxide that can be formed on high A1 composition Al(x)Ga1-xAs (x greater-than-or-similar-to 0.7) confining layers commonly employed on Al(x)Ga1-xAs-Al(y)Ga1-yAs-Al(z)Ga1-zAs (y > z) superlattices or quantum-well heterostructures serves as an effective mask against Si diffusion, and thus impurity-induced layer disordering. The high-quality native oxide is produced by the conversion of high-composition Al(x)Ga1-xAs (x greater-than-or-similar-to 0.7) confining layers via H2O vapor oxidation (greater-than-or-similar-to 400-degrees-C) in N2 carrier gas.