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Mechanism of supercooled droplet freezing on surfaces

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Jung

    (Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
    EADS Innovation Works)

  • Manish K. Tiwari

    (Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.)

  • N. Vuong Doan

    (EADS Innovation Works)

  • Dimos Poulikakos

    (Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.)

Abstract

Understanding ice formation from supercooled water on surfaces is a problem of fundamental importance and general utility. Superhydrophobic surfaces promise to have remarkable 'icephobicity' and low ice adhesion. Here we show that their icephobicity can be rendered ineffective by simple changes in environmental conditions. Through experiments, nucleation theory and heat transfer physics, we establish that humidity and/or the flow of a surrounding gas can fundamentally switch the ice crystallization mechanism, drastically affecting surface icephobicity. Evaporative cooling of the supercooled liquid can engender ice crystallization by homogeneous nucleation at the droplet-free surface as opposed to the expected heterogeneous nucleation at the substrate. The related interplay between droplet roll-off and rapid crystallization is also studied. Overall, we bring a novel perspective to icing and icephobicity, unveiling the strong influence of environmental conditions in addition to the accepted effects of the surface conditions and hydrophobicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Jung & Manish K. Tiwari & N. Vuong Doan & Dimos Poulikakos, 2012. "Mechanism of supercooled droplet freezing on surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-8, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1630
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1630
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiao Yan & Samuel C. Y. Au & Sui Cheong Chan & Ying Lung Chan & Ngai Chun Leung & Wa Yat Wu & Dixon T. Sin & Guanlei Zhao & Casper H. Y. Chung & Mei Mei & Yinchuang Yang & Huihe Qiu & Shuhuai Yao, 2024. "Unraveling the role of vaporization momentum in self-jumping dynamics of freezing supercooled droplets at reduced pressures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Yaxiu Gu & Guixiang He & Shuaipeng Li & Weiqi Ding & Hanlin Li & Jiahui Duan, 2022. "Study on Frost-Suppression Characteristics of Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surface Heat Exchanger Applied in Air Source Heat Pump," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Fuqiang Chu & Shuxin Li & Canjun Zhao & Yanhui Feng & Yukai Lin & Xiaomin Wu & Xiao Yan & Nenad Miljkovic, 2024. "Interfacial ice sprouting during salty water droplet freezing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Akhtar, Saad & Xu, Minghan & Mohit, Mohammaderfan & Sasmito, Agus P., 2023. "A comprehensive review of modeling water solidification for droplet freezing applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Jiawei Jiang & Yizhou Shen & Yangjiangshan Xu & Zhen Wang & Jie Tao & Senyun Liu & Weilan Liu & Haifeng Chen, 2024. "An energy-free strategy to elevate anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic materials through interfacial airflow manipulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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