Heterogeneous ice nucleation is a common process in nature. Although the freezing efficiency of several materials have been studied, it remains challenging to predict the ice nucleation ability of a specific surface, thereby inhibiting the design of new surfaces with increased efficacy. We use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize ice nucleation on surfaces with two different geometries – a surface with graphite geometry and a surface with geometry of the basal face of ice Ih. For the surface with graphite geometry, varying the surface-water interaction potential creates surfaces with different degrees of ice nucleating capability and even allows the surface to become ice prohibiting. In contrast, for the surfaces with ice Ih geometry, the freezing temperature is insensitive to the surface-water interaction potential.

Effects of surface geometry and surface-interaction potential on water freezing temperature

251st National Meeting (2016)

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