Devices and methods for selectively oxidizing
silicon are described herein. An apparatus for selective oxidation of exposed
silicon surfaces includes a thermal
processing chamber with a plurality of walls, first inlet connection and a second inlet connection, wherein the walls define a
processing region within the
processing chamber, a substrate support within the processing chamber, a
hydrogen source connected with the first inlet connection, a heat source connected with the
hydrogen source, and a
remote plasma source connected with the second inlet connection and an
oxygen source. A method for selective oxidation of non-
metal surfaces, can include positioning a substrate in a processing chamber at a temperature less than 800° C., flowing
hydrogen into the processing chamber, generating a
remote plasma comprising
oxygen, mixing the
remote plasma with the hydrogen gas in the processing chamber to create an activated processing gas, and exposing the substrate to the activated gas.