The present invention comprises a method for forming a semiconducting device including the steps of providing a layered structure including a substrate, a low diffusivity layer of a first-conductivity dopant; and a channel layer; forming a gate stack atop a protected surface of the channel layer; etching the layered structure selective to the gate stack to expose a surface of the substrate, where a remaining portion of the low diffusivity layer provides a retrograded island substantially aligned to the gate stack having a first dopant concentration to reduce short-channel effects without increasing leakage; growing a Si-containing material atop the recessed surface of the substrate; and doping the Si-containing material with a second-conductivity dopant at a second dopant concentration. The low diffusivity layer may be Si.sub.1-x-yGe.sub.xZ.sub.y, where Z can be carbon (C), xenon (Xe), germanium (Ge), krypton (Kr), argon (Ar), nitrogen (N), or combinations thereof.