Channel width-dependent viscosity and slip length in nanoslits and effect of surface wettability

Abstract

The channel width-dependent behaviors of viscosity (μ) and slip length (ls) in nanoslits are investigated using many-body dissipative particle dynamics simulation in both Poiseuille and Couette flow systems. In both systems, the viscosity and slip length increase as the channel width (w) grows in smaller channels, while they reach bulk values in larger channels. Moreover, as the surface wettability decreases, the slip length is found to increase, while the viscosity remains the same. The channel width-dependent behavior in nanoslits can be explained by the unique structure of the confined fluid. As the channel width narrows, the uniform density profile in the central region diminishes, and an oscillation pattern appears throughout the system. The change in the microstructure with the channel width alters friction between layers of fluid in laminar flow and fluid-solid friction, leading to a w-dependent μ and ls. Nonetheless, the alteration of surface wettability influences only fluid–solid interactions but not the friction between layers of fluid.