Copper dendrite growth in electrochemical cells with CuSO4 electrolyte and copper electrodes involves complex fluid-structure interactions and magnetohydrodynamics. This study focuses on the localized fluid mechanics at the dendrite tips, examining how coupled fluid flow and moving dendrites' boundaries influence each other. The growth process is governed by the interplay between ionic diffusion, electrochemical reaction rates, and fluid flow, with the dendrite tips experiencing enhanced mass transfer due to localized convection. When an external magnetic field is applied, Lorentz forces induce secondary flows, modifying the shear stress and mass transfer rates at the dendrite tips. Experiments reveal that without a magnetic field the dominant branched structures grow parallel to the current density field. In contrast, the presence of a magnetic field can destabilize these structures by inducing a crossflow and bending the branches, leading to more chaotic growth. The magnetic field can suppress or enhance dendrite growth depending on the working current density, while at high current densities the dendrite forest is chaotically broken with stochastic healing and re-breaking dynamics. This research provides insights into controlling dendrite growth in electrochemical systems, with implications for improving battery performance and preventing short circuits, or increasing electrodeposition for species extraction from aqueous electrolyte solutions.
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