University of Amsterdam researchers develop 3D ice printing method

Physicists at the University of Amsterdam have developed a novel method for 3D printing ice structures using evaporative cooling within a vacuum chamber. Unlike traditional cryogenic printing, this technique does not require liquid nitrogen or refrigerated platforms. Instead, it utilizes a microscopic jet of water—approximately 16 micrometers in diameter—emitted into a low-pressure environment.

As the water evaporates rapidly in the vacuum, the departing molecules remove thermal energy from the remaining liquid, cooling it to a supercooled state below 0°C while it remains liquid. Upon contact with the previously deposited ice layer, the micro-droplets solidify almost instantly.

Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences demonstrates that the system can create complex geometries, including inclined pillars and intricate profiles, without the need for additional support structures. The team has successfully printed various shapes, ranging from small ice trees to complex segments forming a human face profile.