Low noise silicon germanium image sensor

Low noise silicon-germanium (SiGe) image sensor. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array disposed in a semiconductor substrate. The photodiodes of an individual pixel are configured to receive an incoming light through an illuminated surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a first layer of semiconductor material having silicon (Si); and a second layer of semiconductor material having silicon germanium (Si1-xGex). A concentration x of Ge changes gradually through at least a portion of thickness of the second layer. Each photodiode includes a first doped region extending through the first layer of semiconductor material and the second layer of semiconductor material; and a second doped region extending through the first layer of semiconductor material and the second layer of semiconductor material.