Researchers have discovered that a thin vapor layer forms between ice and hot surfaces, acting as a thermal barrier that prevents the ice from heating rapidly.

An international team of researchers has identified a nanoscale vapor barrier that insulates amorphous ice when exposed to extreme heat. Using the FXE instrument at European XFEL, scientists observed that a 6-nanometer-thick vapor gap forms between a platinum film and the ice, significantly reducing heat transfer. The findings, published in Communications Chemistry, suggest that this phenomenon occurs on nanosecond timescales and challenges conventional heat-transfer models.

Discovery of the Vapor Barrier

The experiment involved heating a platinum film beneath an ultra-thin layer of amorphous, noncrystalline ice. Researchers expected to study phase transitions but instead found that the ice remained largely unchanged and did not warm as anticipated. X-ray measurements and computer simulations confirmed that the rapid heating triggers the formation of a vapor gap, which acts as an insulator.

Implications for Science and Technology

The discovery of this insulating layer may influence fields such as laser processing, data storage, and catalysis. Researchers also noted that the findings improve the understanding of how water and ice behave in the atmosphere and in outer space, where amorphous ice interacts with dust grains. The team plans to investigate whether similar vapor layers form at other material interfaces subjected to rapid heating.