Long-range surface forces and their role in the progress

Different theories of stability of liquid nanolayers, disperse and colloidal systems are considered. Limitations intrinsic in the classical Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory (in particular, calculations of the van der Waals forces acting between macroscopic bodies separated by a thin liquid interlayer) are briefly outlined. Studies devoted to the analysis and calculations of non-DLVO interactions of different nature are reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the forces caused by the inhomogeneity of liquid interlayers. The applicability of the known approaches for solving the nanotechnology challenges (namely, calculations of interaction forces acting through nanolayers and between nanoparticles) is discussed.