Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and configurations associated with conversion of thin transistor elements from silicon (Si) to silicon germanium (SiGe). In one embodiment, a method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a channel body of a transistor device disposed on the semiconductor substrate, the channel body comprising silicon, forming a cladding layer comprising germanium on the channel body, and annealing the channel body to cause the germanium to diffuse into the channel body. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.