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Dynamic measurement of microfilms and nanofilms of fluids using fluorescence microscopy

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Abstract

The noninvasive measurement of submicron liquid film thicknesses has been one of the greatest challenges in fluid mechanics experiments. Most applications require the time-dependent measurement of thin film thickness as it varies from macroscopic to microscopic dimensions. The current techniques lack resolution and range to capture the complete characteristics of these phenomena. Here, we use fluorescence microscopy as an optical technique to investigate the thickness of micro- and nanofilms as they evolve with time. We show that this technique is capable of measuring film thicknesses on the order of nanometers to millimeters with very high spatial resolution. Experimental examples are provided to demonstrate the various potential applications of this technique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Anna Hoang, Guillaume Berteloot, Pooria Sharif-Kashani & H. Pirouz Kavehpour

Authors
  1. Anna Hoang
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  2. Guillaume Berteloot
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  3. Pooria Sharif-Kashani
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  4. H. Pirouz Kavehpour
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Correspondence to H. Pirouz Kavehpour.

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Hoang, A., Berteloot, G., Sharif-Kashani, P. et al. Dynamic measurement of microfilms and nanofilms of fluids using fluorescence microscopy. Exp Fluids 52, 1657–1662 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1279-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1279-3

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