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• The effect of electric field on frost crystal growth and jumping is investigated. • The effect of electric field on frost quality was investigated. When the electric field strength reached 6 kV/cm, the frost quality decreased by 54.5 %. • Frost jumping under an electric field is beneficial for anti-icing/frosting. The frosting phenomenon under the influence of an electric field deserves is of interest. It is closely related to the frosting problems of transmission conductors, power devices, etc. In the present study, the growth and jumping characteristics of frost on a frozen droplet were investigated by the visual experiments under an electric field. It is shown that the electric field promotes the growth of primary branch of the frost crystal, while the lateral branch constrains the growth. When the EF (electric field strength) reached 6 kV/cm, the frost crystal became a non-lateral branch structure. In addition, the frost jumping behavior induced by the electric field has changed the frost morphology, and the regularity of frost jumping at different EF has been analyzed. The frequency of frost jumping increases with the increase of EF. When the EF reaches 6 kV/cm, the frost mass drops by 54.5 %. According to the present study, a potential innovation in anti-frosting/icing technology is to propose a rational structural arrangement of the cooling surface under an electric field to maximize the frost jumping effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]