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.