Acoustic resonator devices and methods are disclosed. An acoustic resonator device includes a substrate having a surface and a single-crystal piezoelectric plate having front and back surfaces. An aluminum oxide etch-stop layer is sandwiched between the surface of the substrate and the back surface of the piezoelectric plate, a portion of the piezoelectric plate and the etch-stop layer forming a diaphragm spanning a cavity in the substrate. An interdigital transducer (IDT) is formed on the front surface of the single-crystal piezoelectric plate with interleaved fingers of the IDT disposed on the diaphragm. The aluminum oxide etch-stop layer is impervious to an etch process used to form the cavity.