Structure having isolation structure including deuterium within a substrate and related method

Structures having an isolation structure including deuterium and a related method are disclosed. The deuterium is preferably substantially uniformly distributed, and has a concentration (based on total hydrogen atom content) greater than that found in naturally occurring hydrogen. One structure includes a substrate for a semiconductor device including an isolation structure within the substrate, the isolation structure including substantially uniformly distributed deuterium in a concentration (based on total hydrogen atom content) greater than that found in naturally occurring hydrogen. The substrate may include a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. A method may include the steps of: providing an isolation structure in a substrate, the isolation structure including deuterium; and annealing to diffuse the deuterium into the substrate (prior to and/or after forming a gate dielectric). The structures and method provide a more efficient means for incorporating deuterium and reducing defects. In addition, the deuterium anneal can occur prior to gate dielectric formation during front-end-of-line processes, such that the anneal temperature can be high to improve deuterium incorporation with reduced anneal time.