Electromelting of Confined Monolayer Ice

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to demonstrate that a perpendicular electric field can induce melting of monolayer ice confined between plates, contrary to the typical freezing promotion by electric fields.

Contribution

It reveals that a perpendicular electric field can cause electromelting of confined monolayer ice, highlighting a new physical phenomenon in water behavior under electric fields.

Findings

Melting temperature decreases with increasing electric field strength.

Electric field disrupts the hydrogen bond network in monolayer ice.

Electromelting offers new insights into water physics under electric fields.

Abstract

In sharp contrast to the prevailing view that electric fields promote water freezing, here we show by molecular dynamics simulations that monolayer ice confined between two parallel plates can melt into liquid water under perpendicularly applied electric field. The melting temperature of the monolayer ice decreases with the increasing strength of the external field due to field-induced disruption of the water-wall interaction induced well-ordered network of hydrogen bond. This electromelting process should add an important new ingredient to the physics of water.