Abstract: New classes of thiadiazole and oxadiazole compounds for use in LC mixtures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the new classes of thiadiazoles and oxadiazoles comprise at least one phenyl ring attached to the heterocyclic ring, where no alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl tails are attached to the phenyl ring, but one alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl tail is attached to the other end of the molecule, and a fluoro or cyano group appears in the para position of the phenyl ring. These compounds are disclosed as being effective at inducing smectic A phases in liquid crystal mixtures, particularly in liquid crystal mixtures also possessing a smectic C phase, more particularly in materials possessing a chiral smectic C (ferroelectric) phase.

Abstract: New classes of thiadiazole and oxadiazole compounds for use in LC mixtures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the new classes of thiadiazoles and oxadiazoles comprise at least one phenyl ring attached to the heterocyclic ring, where no alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl tails are attached to the phenyl ring, but one alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl tail is attached to the other end of the molecule, and a fluoro or cyano group appears in the para position of the phenyl ring. These compounds are disclosed as being effective at inducing smectic A phases in liquid crystal mixtures, particularly in liquid crystal mixtures also possessing a smectic C phase, more particularly in materials possessing a chiral smectic C (ferroelectric) phase.

Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions including organic ion pair compounds wherein image sticking is reduced or eliminated. Use of the ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions in a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device allows for rapid image refresh rates without required a DC-balancing algorithm. The organic ion pair compounds provide electrical resistivity values for the compositions that result in reduced image sticking when the compositions are used in FLC display devices.

Abstract: Naproxen-based ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) or nematic liquid crystal chiral compounds, which can be used in liquid crystal compositions useful for electro-optical and display device applications. The liquid crystal can be a ferroelectric liquid crystal. Also provided is a display device that includes the Naproxen-based ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) or nematic liquid crystal chiral compound. Also provided is a method of preparing a liquid crystal display device on silicon that includes incorporating the Naproxen-based ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) or nematic liquid crystal chiral compound, into a liquid crystal display on silicon by disposing the compound in a liquid crystal, or the liquid crystal, onto a silicon surface.

Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions including organic ion pair compounds wherein image sticking is reduced or eliminated. Use of the ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions in a ferroelectric liquid crystal display device allows for rapid image refresh rates without required a DC-balancing algorithm. The organic ion pair compounds provide electrical resistivity values for the compositions that result in reduced image sticking when the compositions are used in FLC display devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides organogermanium compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such a compound.

Abstract: Provided are additive liquid crystalline compounds that, when added to one or more other components, form a mixture which can be supercooled. One class of additive liquid crystalline compounds are silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds. Also provided are devices incorporating one or more silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds described herein and optionally one or more other components. The invention also includes the method of using liquid crystalline mixtures containing silyl-containing liquid crystalline compounds to suppress the crystallization, in a liquid crystal cell, of these mixtures at temperatures below their crystallization point.

Abstract: Liquid crystal materials that exhibit bookshelf structures are provided. When these bookshelf materials are incorporated into a bistable host material, the mixture exhibits a higher switching angle and increased A to C phase transition than bistable hosts without the bookshelf material. These bookshelf materials and bistable compositions are useful in liquid crystal displays, for example.

Abstract: This invention provides LC compositions useful as birefringent materials in electrooptic devices which exhibit zero or low negatively sloped birefringence dispersioon (e.g., exhibiting positive birefringence dispersion significantly lower than that of currently available LC compositions) or more preferably positively sloped birefringence dispersion in which birefringence of the material increases with wavelength. The invention provides compounds useful as components of LC compositions which exhibit negative birefringence where n0 is higher than ne. The compounds of this invention are dimers of LC-like compounds in which the monomers are linked to each other through a high birefringence moiety (dimerization linker). The LC monomers consist of an LC core and one or two tail groups. Preferred monomers for this invention have low birefringence in comparison to the birefringence of the monomer linking moiety.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a host material and a low birefringence liquid crystal composition of the formula: R1—Ar—R2 wherein R1 and R2, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of internally branched alkyl groups having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, terminally branched alkyl groups having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms, internally branched alkenyl groups having from 3 to 20 carbon atoms and terminally branched alkenyl groups having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein one or more —CH2— groups in R1 and R2 may be independently replaced with O, said R1 or R2, independently of one another, can be partially or fully halogenated, and wherein one or both of said R1 and R2 can be absent; Ar is a ring core moiety of the general formula: wherein Cyc is a cyclohexyl ring or a cyclohexenyl ring; RX is a phenyl ring which may be optionally substituted with one or more fluorines; RY is a cyclohexyl or cyclohexenyl ring; wherein x and y are 1

Abstract: This invention provides LC compositions useful as birefringent materials in electrooptic devices which exhibit zero or low negatively sloped birefringence dispersion (e.g., exhibiting positive birefringence dispersion significantly lower than that of currently available LC compositions) or more preferably positively sloped birefringence dispersion in which birefringence of the material increases with wavelength. The invention provides compounds useful as components of LC compositions which exhibit negative birefringence where n.sub.o is higher than n.sub.e. The compounds of this invention are dimers of LC-like compounds in which the monomers are linked to each other through a high birefringence moiety (dimerization linker). The LC monomers consist of an LC core and one or two tail groups. Preferred monomers for this invention have low birefringence in comparison to the birefrigence of the monomer linking moiety.