Magnetically actuated scale-array photothermal coating with integrated anti-icing and meltwater-purging management

• Magnetically reconfigurable PDMS/Co@SiO₂ scale-array coating developed. • Integrates photothermal conversion, magnetic actuation, and superhydrophobicity. • Achieves 52.1°C temperature rise and 74 % icing-delay efficiency. • Active meltwater removal prevents re-freezing and enhances durability. • Maintains low ice adhesion (< 33 kPa) after 50 icing/de-icing cycles. A multifunctional flexible coating with a bioinspired scale-array structure based on PDMS/Co@SiO 2 was developed, integrating magnetic responsiveness, photothermal conversion, and superhydrophobicity for efficient anti-/de-icing. Unlike conventional single-function coatings, the proposed design couples magnetically actuated meltwater/droplet manipulation with solar-driven photothermal heating within a robust flexible matrix. The hierarchical architecture—comprising ferromagnetic Co nanoparticles embedded in PDMS and surface-modified with SiO 2 nanoparticles—primarily enables magnetic actuation, while also providing broadband absorption and efficient light-to-heat conversion for photothermal heating. Under simulated sunlight (1 sun, 100 mW/cm 2 ), the coating achieved a rapid temperature rise of 52.1°C, effectively delaying freezing and accelerating de-icing while maintaining stable performance after > 50 icing/de-icing cycles, thereby shortening the melting stage prior to magnetically driven meltwater purging. Meanwhile, the Co-rich flexible scales responded to external magnetic fields through a “magnetic imbalance–elastic recoil” mechanism, enabling controllable droplet motion without direct contact and with negligible on-board energy consumption. The superhydrophobic surface topology further reduced interfacial friction and adhesion, ensuring rapid fluid shedding by lowering the threshold for magnetically actuated droplet roll-off. This integrated approach establishes a durable, adaptive strategy for surface ice mitigation, with strong potential for deployment in aerospace, power infrastructure, and intelligent microfluidic systems operating under extreme environments.