What makes frozen water an unexpected power source?

Scientists have uncovered a surprising new property of ordinary ice: it can generate electricity when bent or deformed unevenly. An international research team observed this phenomenon, known as flexoelectricity, which challenges long-held beliefs about the electrical nature of ice.

Unlike other materials that generate electricity under simple pressure, ice produces an electric charge only under mechanical stress or irregular bending, opening a novel path for understanding natural electrical phenomena.

Ice's dual electrical mechanisms

The research, led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and partners in China and the U.S., showed that ice possesses two mechanisms to generate electric charge.

At temperatures up to 0°C, ice exhibits flexoelectricity, electric charge from bending. At extremely low temperatures below -113°C, ice also reveals ferroelectric properties, with a thin surface layer contributing to electricity generation.

This dual mechanism discovery sets ice apart from other known materials and aligns its flexoelectric coefficient with those of advanced electroceramics used in modern sensors and capacitors.

Did you know?
Ice’s flexoelectric coefficient rivals that of advanced electroceramic materials like titanium dioxide.

Insights into lightning formation

One of the most intriguing implications lies in meteorology. Scientists have long debated how ice particles in storm clouds build the electrical charges responsible for lightning.

The new findings demonstrate that the bending and collisions of ice particles generate electric potentials similar to those observed in thunderstorms.

These results, validated by lab experiments measuring electricity from bent ice slabs, suggest that flexoelectricity plays a critical role in naturally charging clouds, offering a fresh explanation for lightning's origins.

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Potential for cold-weather technology

Beyond natural science, the electrical qualities of ice could drive innovations in cold environment electronics. Devices built from ice as an active, energy-generating material could be manufactured in situ at polar or high-altitude locations where traditional electronics face challenges.

Researchers envision low-cost sensors and transducers utilizing ice’s flexoelectric and ferroelectric properties, providing a sustainable, locally sourced power solution for extreme environments.

The discovery not only reveals an unseen electrical facet of a common substance but also points toward new frontiers in both environmental science and technology.