Study of the surface of ice, ice/solid and ice/liquid interfaces with scanning force microscopy

Contact mode of scanning force microscopy (SFM) and force curves (FC) were used to study the morphology of ice surface in air and in liquid decane and the structure and some physical properties of the interfaces between ice and Si and Si3N4 cantilever tips in the temperature range from -0.4 to -20 degrees C. Evidence for a liquid-like layer on the ice surface came from observation of capillary forces that act on cantilever tips. Intensive mass transport along the ice surface was found at T greater than or equal to -14 degrees C. The FCs were used to determine the adhesion strength of ice to Si and Si3N4 cantilever tips, the corresponding interfacial energies, the thickness of a liquid-like layer, and the density of an electric charge acquired by the tips from the ice surface.