Investigation the Optical and Structural Properties and Effects of Plasma Treatment on the Wattibilty of Bare and Nd-doped TiO2

This study explores the effect of plasma treatment on the wettability of titanium oxide (TiO2) films. TiO2 was prepared using the sol–gel method and deposited on glass substrates. One set of films was indium-doped, while both doped and undoped films were divided into groups receiving either thermal or plasma treatment. Plasma treatment significantly decreased the water contact angle for both neodymium-doped and undoped TiO2, indicating increased hydrophilicity. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that both doped and undoped films maintained the same crystalline phase after plasma treatment, with a slight increase in peak intensity and amplitude. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy showed a decrease in the bandgap energy upon indium doping, suggesting the potential for enhanced photoactivity. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that plasma treatment effectively modifies the wettability of TiO2 films, and neodymium doping influences their optical properties.