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Dendrite formation is a critical issue in uranium recovery from spent nuclear fuel (SNF) through a molten-salt electrorefining process. To understand and modulate uranium dendritic formation, we developed a computation model that involves all the complexities in the mechano-electrochemical process, such as diffusion–reaction kinetics, interfacial anisotropy and the variations of electric and stress fields. In particular, the lattice mismatch between deposit and substrate is considered which addressed the importance of cathode material. The model explains various morphologies of dendrites, which in a two-dimensional scenario can be demarcated based on the perimeter-to-area ratio, χ/S. Dendrites can be needle-like, tooth-like, or tree-like when χ/S

Mechanotransduction is the initiation of an electrochemical signal as a result of mechanical stimuli. It is found predominately in biological tissue and its mechanisms are well documented. In the gel like tissues of the body, such as articular cartilage and intervertebral discs, mechanotransduction regulates matrix building and degrading processes as well as keeping the tissues adequately hydrated, both with the aim of minimizing degradation. The electrochemical responses to mechanical loading at constant volume of an inanimate hydrogel could assist in the understanding of these processes.There is considerable evidence that the modulus of hydrated tissues and hydrogels depend explicitly on ionic concentration. By modeling the mechano-electrochemical relationship of a hydrogel, the coupling of the elastic and electrochemical energies can be quantified. In turn, the mechanisms that govern this phenomenon can be better understood. This study modifies the Flory-Rehner theory of gels, using material-specific experimental data as input. The results show up to a 11% difference in equilibrium swelling magnitude compared to the Flory-Rehner model. Furthermore, under isochoric deformation, an increase in electrical potential is shown with increasing shear strain, something which is not possible with conventional Flory-Rehner and Donnan theory. This aligns the continuum model presented here more closely with both experiment and microscopic theories. The mechanosensing capabilities as well as varying swelling responses in different solution concentrations highlight the models potential applications in both biological and technological settings.