A method of manufacturing a CMOS image sensor is disclosed. A silicon-on-insulator substrate is provided, which includes providing a silicon-on-insulator substrate including a mechanical substrate, an insulator layer substantially overlying the mechanical substrate, and a seed layer substantially overlying the insulator layer. A semiconductor substrate is epitaxially grown substantially overlying the seed layer. The mechanical substrate and at least a portion of the insulator layer are removed. An ultrathin oxide layer is formed substantially underlying the semiconductor substrate. A mono layer of metal is formed substantially underlying the ultrathin oxide layer.