Localized Magnetohydrodynamic-Induced Convection to Control Dendritic Morphologies

The growth of metal dendrites is governed by the ionic concentration and the operating current of an electrochemical reactor. The growth of dendritic structures can be suppressed by forced convection as shown in the literature. However, the bulk force applied requires energy input for its operation. Using a microfluidic reactor, we show an energy-efficient way of suppressing the dendrites using a magnetic field, which can also be applied for the extraction of ionic components. The applied magnetic field modifies the morphology of the deposits locally by exhibiting anisotropy and three-dimensional deposition along a preferred pathway. The magnetic field promotes bulky growth with reduced heights under chronoamperometry and shows enhanced rates of extraction under chronopotentiometry. The growth of dendrites, and the flow of electrolytes around them, create a synergistic effect by inducing localized flows around conductive boundaries. This paves the way for its application in battery systems where dendrites can be controlled and also in electrochemical separation techniques where the energy-efficient electrodeposition is favorable.