An investigation was conducted to examine the dominant fluid transport physics at the macro, micro, and molecular scale. Three novel techniques were developed to elucidate the fluid flow fields occurring in microscale and nanoscale fluidic systems. These techniques were then used to design and investigate a novel free-surface microfluidic system capable of delivering sustained and controlled flows ranging from 0 -- 1000 mum/s. The microsystem was then used to develop a sensitive and selective chemical detector capable of identifying certain gas-phase molecules present in the nearby atmosphere. The detector performs molecular recognition of gaseous compounds in the adjacent atmosphere by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and the transport properties of the microfluidic system are designed to maximize vapor detection capability. Chemical detection sensitivity of gaseous compounds is better than PPT. Vapors emanated from some nearby solid compounds are also detected at room temperature, including the gas-phase molecules naturally emitted from the explosive compounds: TNT, TATP, picric acid, RDX; and from narcotic samples such as cocaine.

The advancements in micro- and nano-fabrication techniques, especially in the last couple of decades, have led research communities, over the world, to invest unprecedented levels of attention on the science and technology of micro- and nano-scale devices and the concerned applications. With an intense focus on micro- and nanotechnology from a fluidic perspective, Microfluidics and Microscale Transport Processes provides a broad review of advances in this field. A comprehensive compendium of key indicators to recent developments in some very active research topics in microscale transport processes, it supplies an optimal balance between discussions of concrete applications and development of fundamental understanding. The chapters discuss a wide range of issues in the sub-domains of capillary transport, fluidic resistance, electrokinetics, substrate modification, rotational microfluidics, and the applications of the phenomena of these sub-domains in diverse situations ranging from non-biological to biological ones like DNA hybridization and cellular biomicrofluidics. The book also addresses a generic problem of particle transport in nanoscale colloidal suspensions and includes a chapter on Lattice-Boltzmann methods for phase-changing problems which represents a generic particle based approach that may be useful to address many microfluidic problems of interdisciplinary relevance.

In this book, the fundamentals of chemical engineering are presented with respect to applications in micro system technology, microfluidics, and transport processes within microstructures. Special features of the book include the state-of-the-art in micro process engineering, a detailed treatment of transport phenomena for engineers, and a design methodology from transport effects to economic considerations.

This book provides readers from academia and industry with an up-to-date overview of important advances in the field, dealing with such fundamental fluid mechanics problems as nonlinear transport phenomena and optimal control of mixing at the micro- and nanoscale. The editors provide both in-depth knowledge of the topic as well as vast experience in guiding an expert team of authors. The review style articles offer a coherent view of the micromixing methods, resulting in a much-needed synopsis of the theoretical models needed to direct experimental research and establish engineering principles for future applications. Since these processes are governed by nonlinear phenomena, this book will appeal to readers from both communities: fluid mechanics and nonlinear dynamics.

In this way the interactions of very small numbers of the relevant species can be investigated. Together, SERS and microfluidics provide a powerful platform for detection of a wide range of analytes, with unparalleled specificity, precision, and accuracy.

There are several physico-chemical processes that determine the behavior of multiphase fluid systems – e.g., the fluid dynamics in the different phases and the dynamics of the interface(s), mass transport between the fluids, adsorption effects at the interface, and transport of surfactants on the interface – and result in heterogeneous interface properties. In general, these processes are strongly coupled and local properties of the interface play a crucial role. A thorough understanding of the behavior of such complex flow problems must be based on physically sound mathematical models, which especially account for the local processes at the interface. This book presents recent findings on the rigorous derivation and mathematical analysis of such models and on the development of numerical methods for direct numerical simulations. Validation results are based on specifically designed experiments using high-resolution experimental techniques. A special feature of this book is its focus on an interdisciplinary research approach combining Applied Analysis, Numerical Mathematics, Interface Physics and Chemistry, as well as relevant research areas in the Engineering Sciences. The contributions originated from the joint interdisciplinary research projects in the DFG Priority Programme SPP 1506 “Transport Processes at Fluidic Interfaces.”

The present set of lectures and tutorial reviews deals with various topical aspects related to instabilities of interfacial processes and driven flows from both the theoretical and experimental point of views. New research has been spurred by demands for many applications in material sciences (melting, solidification, electro deposition), biomedical engineering and processing in microgravity environments. This book is intended as both a modern source of reference for researchers in the field as well as an introduction to postgraduate students and non-specialists from related areas.