Leaf-inspired surface prevents frost formation

Science Daily  March 10, 2020 Based on their fundamental understanding of discontinuous frost patterns found on the leaf vein structure on the scale of millimeters, researchers at Northwestern University elucidated the thermodynamic correlation between the frost-free area and two major surface system parameters—macroscopic surface geometry and ambient humidity. This systematic study on the frost formation mechanism allowed them to demonstrate a ∼50% of frost coverage even for superhydrophilic surfaces and provides a quantitative guideline for further reducing frost coverage. The finding could help decrease the amount of energy needed for de-frosting and could potentially result in fewer canceled flights, which […]

Defrosting surfaces in seconds

Phys.org  August 30, 2019 Conventional defrosting melts all the ice or frost from the top layer. Researchers at the University of Illinois proposed delivering a pulse of very high current where the ice and the surface meet to create a layer of water. To ensure the pulse reaches the intended space rather than melting the exposed ice, they applied a thin coating of indium tin oxide to the surface of the material. They validated the concept in an experimental model which showed that <1% of the energy and <0.01% of the defrosting time was needed compared to conventional thermal-based defrosting […]