A very ambitious research program and a high quality research group starting the programme in 1999, have resulted in several world-recognized scientific achievements of the group. Among these, perhaps the most important is the discovery of inorganic nanotubes, synthesized from MoS2 and WS2, that is a result of several year intensive research in the field of inorganic layered materials. Anorganic nanotubes are promissing candidates for new applications in reinforced composite materials, ultra-light materials, large surface catalytic materials and cold electron emission materials. The second world recognized scientific achievement is a development of a new experimental method for measuring surface and intermolecular forces, based on an Atomic Force Microscope. The group has developed a unique system for the temperature variable force spectroscopy in complex fluids near phase transitions that is a very powerful tool for the analysis of interfacial structure. In particular, this has led to a discovery of the capillary condensation near phase transitions in nematic liquid crystals, that is a promissing phenomena for potential application in self-organization of particles on surfaces. The PhD work of Klemen Kočevar on this subject has been awarded the international G.H.Brown Award of the International Liquid Crystal Society in 2000-2002.