Multivalent Surface Cations Enhance Heterogeneous Freezing of Water on Muscovite Mica.

Heterogeneous ice nucleation is a crucial phenomenon in various fields of fundamental and applied science. We investigate the effect of surface cations on freezing of water on muscovite mica. Mica is unique in that the exposed ion on its surface can be readily and easily exchanged without affecting other properties such as surface roughness.