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.