Meniscus formation and breakdown of thin polymer films in microchannels

We report for the first time transient behavior of the meniscus of thin polymer films (<100 nm) in microchannels. Because of film-substrate interactions, the minimum meniscus height can keep decreasing as the meniscus develops, and this meniscus-induced reduction in the film thickness can cause an instability across the channel. A simple model can explain the instability satisfactorily.