The application of microfabrication techniques to problems involving fluids
is reviewed. A number of scientific issues have been addressed using micro
structures designed to confine and manipulate fluids. These problems includ
e studies of fluid motion in percolative structures. chemical applications
involving small volumes of reactants and products, biologically inspired ex
periments involving the manipulation of individual molecules, and studies o
f fundamental properties of liquids in extremely small geometries. Represen
tative work is described, slang with the ingenious fabrication methods whic
h have been developed.
We believe that there are many opportunities for interesting basic physics
and also interdisciplinary work in this area. The primary goal of this arti
cle is to bring this message to the general physics community.