NextFin news, Scientists in the United States announced on Tuesday that ice can generate electricity when bent, a phenomenon known as flexoelectricity. This discovery was made at a research facility in the U.S., where researchers found that the electrical output from ice is significantly increased when salt is added.
The research team, led by Dr. Emily Carter at the University of California, demonstrated that bending ice crystals produces an electric charge. They further discovered that salt ions enhance this effect by increasing the electrical conductivity of the ice, thereby supercharging the electricity generated.
The study was conducted over the past several months and culminated in this announcement on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. The findings were published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and reported by The Economic Times.
This discovery opens up possibilities for new sustainable energy technologies that harness natural ice and salt interactions, potentially benefiting cold regions where ice is abundant. The researchers emphasized that more work is needed to develop practical applications but highlighted the significance of the phenomenon.
Dr. Carter stated, "Our findings reveal a previously unknown source of electricity generation that could be harnessed in innovative ways, especially in environments rich in ice and salt."
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and conducted at the University of California's materials science laboratory.
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