The formation of confined film between two contacting surfaces is significant for evaluating the lubricating ability of liquid. A micro-content of oil in water was experimentally demonstrated to be significantly effective to the film formation of water, which was much thicker than predicted by elastohydrodynamic lubrication theory. The effect of solid surface characteristics on the liquid film confined in a nanogap has been investigated. The film forming performances of such films were presented. The work of adhesion between two different phases was calculated, and the competitive wetting behaviours of water and oil on different solid surfaces were employed to understand the film formation mechanism. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.