Capturing nanoscopic length scales and structures by polymerization in microemulsions

The use of microemulsions as templates for the preparation of materials including polymer latexes, nanostructured polymers and inorganic-organic nanocomposites by microemulsion polymerizations is reviewed. Recent developments using polymerizable and polymeric surfactants in microemulsion formulation and polymerization are also represented with examples. These studies suggest several empirical principles favoring the capturing of nanoscopic length scale during microemulsion polymerizations. These principles include using polymerizable surfactants and cosurfactants, and promoting polymerization rates over interdroplet monomer exchange rates.