Patent ID: 7825018

Claim:
A plasma oxidation processing method for performing an oxidation process on a structural object including at least a silicon layer and a metal-containing layer, thereby forming a silicon oxide film on at least the silicon layer, the method comprising: performing a first plasma oxidation process by use of a process gas including at least hydrogen gas and oxygen gas with the hydrogen gas larger in flow rate than the oxygen gas and a process pressure of 1.33 to 66.67 Pa, to oxidize a surface of the silicon layer to form a surface silicon oxide film thereon; and performing a second plasma oxidation process by use of a process gas including at least hydrogen gas and oxygen gas with the hydrogen gas larger in flow rate than the oxygen gas and a process pressure of 133.3 to 1,333 Pa, to further develop oxidation of the surface of the silicon layer and to oxidize an edge portion of the silicon layer to form a birds-beak shaped portion made of silicon oxide that extends inward from the surface silicon oxide film, after the first plasma oxidation process.