Heat and Mass Transfer in Microchannels

Research on heat and mass transfer in microchannels represents the cutting-edge frontier in modern high-density electronic cooling, advanced energy systems, and precision microfluidic manipulation. By deeply integrating heat and mass transfer science with micro-/nano-fabrication technologies, this field achieves highly efficient energy and material transport within extreme spatial constraints, underpinning a series of disruptive technologies that range from chip-level thermal management to bio-sensing. The strategic significance of this field lies not only in its irreplaceable compactness and efficiency but also in its ability to reveal and harness unique physical mechanisms that dominate at the micro-scale. This lays the foundation for fundamentally innovating thermal management strategies and serves as a key driver for the continued miniaturization and performance leap of devices. The 17 original research articles included in this Reprint can be clearly categorized into four main groups, based on their research subjects and orientations: fundamental studies on single-phase flow, fundamental studies on multiphase flow, and applied research on both single-phase and multiphase flow. These works help deepen our understanding of fundamental mechanisms in micro-scale flow and heat transfer and provide key insights and solutions for the design of next-generation microchannel heat sinks, micro-heat exchangers, and high-performance microfluidic systems. Future research will continue to advance toward intelligent design, cross-scale integration, and reliable applications in even more extreme environments.