Measuring liquid meniscus velocity to determine size of nanopipette aperture.

Nanopipette aperture sizes up to 25 nm are determined here using a method based on the Poiseuille law. Pressure is applied to the backside of a liquid plug placed in the widest end of the nanopipette, resulting in an air pressure tank with an aperture at the very tip of the nanopipette. Measuring the velocity of the liquid meniscus gives the air flow and thus the aperture size. Aperture determinations are in good agreement with SEM estimations and the proposed method is simple, relatively fast, and cheap.