Drop Impact on Sublimating Surfaces
A water drop hitting dry ice freezes from below even as it spreads. We showed that the thickness of this solidified layer — set by the impact velocity — is the primary control on the outcome: enough solidification suppresses rebound and delays fragmentation. The findings inform the design of anti-icing and self-cleaning surfaces, where whether a drop sticks, bounces, or shatters is exactly what matters. Published in Physical Review Fluids.