Distinct ice patterns on solid surfaces with various wettabilities

Significance Ice growth is essential to the final shape of ice crystals; therefore, it is of significant relevance to rich varieties of practical applications and fundamental research. A correlation between the surface wettability and ice growth has not been established, although ice often forms on solid surfaces. We discover experimentally that ice grows along surface when the contact angle of water drops on solid surfaces is below a critical value, and ice grows off surface when the contact angle is above this critical value. Our molecular dynamics simulation analysis reveals that the presence/absence of bilayer ice on solid surfaces of different surface wettabilities dictates the ice growth and therefore provides the molecular mechanism of ice growth on solid surfaces.