Tiny molecules already used to thicken everyday products like lotions and adhesives may soon help keep aircraft safe in icy conditions. These molecules, known as low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs), can self-assemble into soft, gel-like structures and have long been used in industrial formulations.

In a study published in Langmuir, researchers report that adding just small amounts of these molecules can significantly improve the performance of aircraft anti-icing fluids.

The team modified commercial deicing and anti-icing fluids—which already contain polymers for protective coating—by incorporating LMWG molecules to produce a hybrid gel formulation. They tested three variants of a gelator, known as DBS (1,3:2,4-dibenzylidenesorbitol), at varying levels of aviation-grade agents used to remove existing ice and prevent new ice formation on aircraft surfaces during ground operations.