We studied surface-mediated liquid transport through molecularly thin films on individual nanotubes in ambient conditions. The surface fluid with molecular thickness ($\sim 10\AA$) flowed at a constant speed ($\sim 10\mu \mathrm{m}/\mathrm{s}$) and volume flow rate ($\sim 10\mathrm{al}/\mathrm{s}$) along the nanotubes. The volume flow rate $Q$ follows the power law dependence $Q\sim d^{2.4}$ on the nanotube diameter $d$, which is explained with a generic microscopic model.

• Received 20 May 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.186102