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.