An international research team has made a significant discovery, revealing that ice can generate electricity when deformed, a phenomenon known as flexoelectricity. Published in Nature Physics in September 2025, this finding opens up new possibilities for electronic devices and energy harvesting in cold environments.
The study, a collaboration between the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials (ICN2), Xi'an Jiaotong University, and Stony Brook University, found that while pure ice produces a charge upon deformation, the levels are insufficient for practical use. However, adding common salt at a 25% concentration dramatically boosts this effect, increasing the flexoelectric coefficient by a thousand times compared to pure ice. This enhancement makes saline ice comparable to materials currently used in advanced electronics.
This breakthrough offers a new perspective on natural electrical phenomena in icy regions. The researchers suggest it could help explain electrical activity observed on Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, both known for their icy surfaces. Additionally, the findings may shed light on how lightning forms in thunderstorms, where the interaction of ice crystals plays a crucial role. Calculations indicate that the charge density generated during ice-graupel collisions in storm clouds aligns with experimental data on charge transfer, supporting ice's involvement in storm electrification.
The technological implications are considerable. The ability to harness electricity from ice could lead to the development of cost-effective sensors and energy harvesting devices deployable in extreme cold conditions, such as polar regions. The flexoelectric properties of ice are comparable to those of benchmark dielectric ceramics like titanium dioxide and strontium titanate, which are vital components in capacitors and sensors. This comparability suggests the potential for creating temporary, ice-based electronics suitable for arctic or high-altitude applications.
While practical applications are still in their early stages, this discovery fundamentally redefines ice not as a passive material but as one with active electrical properties. The research team is actively pursuing further investigations to translate these findings into real-world applications, potentially leading to innovative clean energy solutions and a deeper understanding of electrical dynamics in Earth's icy environments and beyond.