With the development of manufacturing technology on the nanoscale, the precision of nano-devices is rapidly increasing with lower cost. Different from macroscale or microscale fluids, many specific phenomena and advantages are observed in nanofluidics. Devices and process involving and utilizing these phenomena play an important role in many fields in chemical engineering including separation, chemical analysis and transmission. In this article, we summarize the state-of-the-art progress in theoretical studies and manufacturing technologies on nanofluidics. Then we discuss practical applications of nanofluidics in many chemical engineering fields, especially in separation and encountering problems. Finally, we arc looking forward to the future of nanofluidics and believe it will be more important in the separation process and the modern chemical industry. (C) 2019 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.