CMOS image sensor having high sensitivity and low crosstalk, particularly at far-red to infrared wavelengths, and a method for fabricating a CMOS image sensor. A CMOS image sensor has a substrate, an epitaxial layer above the substrate, and a plurality of pixels extending into the epitaxial layer for receiving light. The image sensor also includes at least one of a horizontal barrier layer between the substrate and the epitaxial layer for preventing carriers generated in the substrate from moving to the epitaxial layer, and a plurality of lateral barrier layers between adjacent ones of the plurality of pixels for preventing lateral diffusion of electrons in the epitaxial layer. |