Frosting characteristics on silver iodide (AgI) micro patterned surface under various temperature conditions

• AgI stripe patterned surfaces are fabricated by a UV-lithography method. • Frosting characteristics are investigated under desublimation and condensation frosting conditions. • Key parameters such as frost coverage ratio and frost growth rate are quantitatively analyzed. • Horizontal crystal growth on AgI patterns effectively suppresses frost height. This study investigates frost growths on a silver iodide (AgI) patterned surface fabricated by a UV-lithography method under various temperature conditions. Effects of surface temperature and AgI micropatterns under both desublimation condition (ambient temperature of 4.5 ± 1 °C and relative humidity of 37 ± 2 %) and condensation frosting condition (ambient temperature of 23.9 ± 2 °C and relative humidity of 25 ± 5 %) are investigated. In addition, characteristic parameters of frost growth such as frost coverage ratio and frost growth rate are analyzed. Results show that frost on AgI micropattern exhibits very different frost shape compared to that on a bare surface. Planer ice crystals form on the AgI micropatterns, which grow horizontally and remain unchanged for 150 min. This study demonstrates that AgI patterns can effectively suppress frost height by promoting horizontal crystal growth, which may provide new insights to control frost local microstructure such as density and tortuosity.