Polymerization in a Reverse Micelle Nanoreactor: Preparation of Processable Poly(p-phenylenevinylene) with Controlled Conjugation Length

We show that a nanoscale polymerization reaction within the confinement of a reverse micellar cavity yields products with controlled conjugation lengths and, thus, controlled band gaps for applications to electronics and photonics. In addition, control of the physical size (length) of the polymer provides the prospects of monodispersity, improved processability, and preparation of nanocomposites. This novel approach has been successfully applied to produce controlled chain length poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), a polymer that has drawn considerable attention in recent years for its electroluminescence, nonlinear optical, and lasing properties.