Скачать или смотреть Scientists Discover Self-Propelled Ice with Potential For Clean Energy

Researchers at Virginia Tech have engineered a flat metal surface that makes ice disks slide on their own—no push or wind required. The breakthrough, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, could lead to advances in defrosting, self-cleaning systems, and renewable energy harvesting.

Inspired by Death Valley’s “sailing stones,” the team spent five years designing aluminum plates etched with V-shaped grooves in a herringbone pattern. As ice melts on the heated plates, water channels forward through the grooves, propelling the ice along. When coated with water-repellent spray, the ice initially sticks but then suddenly zips across the surface.

Beyond passive ice removal, the researchers suggest these patterned plates could drive rotating ice disks, which, when paired with magnets or turbines, could generate clean energy. While more testing is needed, this work shows how nature-inspired engineering can unlock new methods for sustainable microtransport and power-free motion control.

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