The problems and progress in the experimental study of Micro/Nano-scaleflow

The micro/nanoscale experimental fluid mechanics studies the fluid flow with the typical dimension from about 1mm to 1nm,which is also the transition range from the macro-scopic flow to molecular motion.The combination of the two classical theories:the continuum mechanics and the quantum mechanics,pusts forward some basic theoretical problems like the validity of the continuity hypothesis and the boundary slip.In the mean time,due to the coupling of the liquid/solid/gas phases in micro/nanoscale,it is worthy considering the influence of inter-facial chemistry and electric properties on the flow.Therefore,micro/nano experimental devices should integrate force and electricity measurements,and require a nanometer measuring space resolution,a pN force precision and a nano-second time resolution.This paper focuses on the problems of validity of the continuity hypothesis,boundary slip,Brownian motion of micro/nano-particles and micro-vortex flow,and introduces the progresses and difficulties of micro/nano flow measurement by Micro/Nano PIV and micro/nanoscale flow visualization using trac-ers.Up to date,the study of micro/nano flow is still following the idea of “miniaturization”of the classical fluid mechanics measurement,however,the nano flow measurement urgently needs new techniques and methods.