• 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 ( 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.
Pang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.