A method comprises forming a material over a substrate and patterning the
material to remove portions of the material and expose an underlying
portion of the substrate. The method further includes performing an
oxidation process to form an oxide layer over the exposed portion of the
substrate and at an interface between the material and the substrate. A
circuit comprises a non-critical device and an oxide formed as part of
this non-critical device. A high-K dielectric material is formed over a
substrate as part of the critical device within the circuit. An oxide
based interface is provided between the high-K dielectric material and an
underlying substrate. A second method forms a nitride or oxynitride as
the first material.