Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystal devices having two spaced cell walls each bearing electrode structures and treated on at least one facing surface with an alignment layer, and a layer of a smectic liquid crystal material enclosed between the cell walls, exhibits a minimum in its response time versus voltage curve. The crystal material has two components, A and B.

Abstract: Ferroelectric liquid crystal devices are described which contain liquid crystal mixtures comprising components A and B. Component A consists of one or more optically active compounds capable of imparting a spontaneous polarization to the material. Component B is selected as one or more compounds having formula (I), wherein a, b and c are independently 0, 1, 2; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are C.sub.1-15 straight or branched chain alkyl or alkoxy, preferably C.sub.3-12. In the above (for component B) CH=CH linking groups may be replaced by C.sub.2 H.sub.4 and CH.sub.2 O linking groups may be replaced by OCH.sub.2.