Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoalignment layer with a more reliable absorption anisotropy parameter as a photoalignment layer that allows for reduced AC image-sticking. Specifically, provided is a photoalignment layer, obtained by exposure to polarized UV radiation, that has a maximum ?A (=A1?A2, where A1 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to a vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation, and A2 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to the vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation) of 0.35 or more per micrometer of layer thickness in a range of 230 to 380 nm.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a liquid crystal alignment layer that can easily be formed, to which an anchoring force can be efficiently induced with less polarized light for exposure, and that is effective in controlling the orientation and pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules, and a compound and polymer that can be used for such a liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition solution that has good storage stability and allows a polymerizable compound in the polymerizable composition to be aligned well with no defects after application to a base and removal of a solvent by a drying process and also an optically anisotropic body that includes the solution and has good alignment without any defects. A solution containing a polymerizable composition and an organic solvent, wherein the polymerizable composition contains 90 mass % or more of a polymerizable compound intramolecularly having a 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene group as represented by general formula (1) and an optically anisotropic body including the solution.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoalignment layer with a more reliable absorption anisotropy parameter as a photoalignment layer that allows for reduced AC image-sticking. Specifically, provided is a photoalignment layer, obtained by exposure to polarized UV radiation, that has a maximum ?A (=A1?A2, where A1 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to a vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation, and A2 is the absorbance in a direction parallel to the vibration direction of the polarized UV radiation) of 0.35 or more per micrometer of layer thickness in a range of 230 to 380 nm.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display using a birefringent material having two or more liquid crystal compounds each having at least one polymerizable functional group. The method includes the steps of providing the birefringent lens material; applying the birefringent lens material onto an alignment layer that has been subjected to an alignment treatment in a uniaxial direction, and forming the coating film into a lens shape by conducting curing with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide polymerizable compounds having excellent optical characteristics and suited as materials for optically anisotropic articles, compositions containing the polymerizable compounds, polymers obtained by polymerising the polymerizable compounds, optically anisotropic articles formed of the polymers, and liquid crystal display devices including the optically anisotropic articles.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymerizable compound suitable as a material for optically anisotropic bodies having excellent optical properties, a composition containing the polymerizable compound, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound, an optically anisotropic body formed of the polymer, and a liquid crystal display device including the optically anisotropic body.

Abstract: There is provided a compound containing a mesogenic group, which includes a silicon compound at a low concentration, a polymerizable compound containing the mesogenic group, a mixture and a composition using these compounds, a polymerizable mixture having the polymerizable compound, and a polymer, an optically anisotropic body, and a phase difference film using the polymerizable composition. It is possible to obtain the optically anisotropic body and the phase difference film having satisfactory scratch resistance and adhesion, by using the polymerizable composition composed of the compound containing a mesogenic group, which includes a silicon compound at a low concentration.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymerizable compound suitable as a material for optically anisotropic bodies having excellent optical properties, a composition containing the polymerizable compound, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound, an optically anisotropic body formed of the polymer, and a liquid crystal display device including the optically anisotropic body.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a liquid crystal alignment layer that can easily be formed, to which an anchoring force can be efficiently induced with less polarized light for exposure, and that is effective in controlling the orientation and pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules, and a compound and polymer that can be used for such a liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realizing excellent display characteristics by being used in a liquid-crystal display element provided with a photo-alignment film, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element. A liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following General Formula (I) is provided.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid-crystal display element using a liquid-crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy, capable of realising excellent display characteristics by being used in an FFS mode liquid-crystal display element, without deteriorating various characteristics as a liquid-crystal display element such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, a nematic phase upper limit temperature, nematic phase stability at low temperatures, and ?1, and burn-in characteristics of a display element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable composition useful as a liquid crystal device, a display, an optical member, a coloring agent, a security marking, and a laser light emitting member and a thin film obtained from the polymerizable composition. The present invention provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition having excellent solubility into a solvent, exhibiting good adhesion to a base material, and being capable of realizing a thin film having low haze and no variations and, in addition, provides a thin film having excellent appearance by using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition according to the present invention is used and, thereby, a composition and a thin film having low haze and no variations and, at the same time, having excellent adhesion to a base material can be obtained at a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition which produces films being uncolored and having no cissinq and good alignment when applied to a substrate, and also provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition produced by the method and an optically anisotropic body using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for producing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, the method comprising a step (I) of preparing a polymerizable solution by mixing at least, one polymerizable compound having at least one polymerizable functional group and one or two or more organic solvents and heating and stirring the resultant mixture; and a step (II) of mixing the polymerizable solution with a polymerization initiator, and also provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition produced by the method and an optically anisotropic body using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: [Problem] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for developing a large anchoring energy by simple processes. [Solution] There is provided a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal alignment film, comprising: a process (I) of mixing a solvent with a photoresponsive polymer to prepare a photoresponsive polymer solution; a process (II) of coating the photoresponsive polymer solution on a substrate, followed by drying at 50 to 100° C. for 1 to 3 minutes and then drying at 120° C. to 180° C. for 5 to 75 minutes to form a coating film; and a process (III) of adjusting a temperature of the coating film while the coating film is irradiated with a light of 200 to 350 nm to 40° C. to 100° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable composition solution that has good storage stability and allows a polymerizable compound in the polymerizable composition to be aligned well with no defects after application to a base and removal of a solvent by a drying process and also provides an optically anisotropic body that includes the solution and has good alignment without any defects. The present invention provides a solution containing a polymerizable composition and an organic solvent, wherein the polymerizable composition contains 90 mass % or more of a polymerizable compound intramolecularly having a 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene group as represented by general formula (1) and provides an optically anisotropic body including the solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing polymerizable liquid crystal compounds and a photoinitiator, wherein the photoinitiator has a light absorption band in a wavelength range of 280 to 400 nm; and at least one of the polymerizable liquid crystal compounds has a light absorption band in a wavelength range of 320 to 400 nm or a light-absorbing agent having a light absorption band in a wavelength range of 280 to 400 nm is contained. Thus, there is provided a material that can be cured in the air without replacing the atmosphere with an inert gas during irradiation with ultraviolet rays and that can achieve the characteristics required for a biaxial film, such as a sufficiently large front phase difference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a birefringent lens material for a stereoscopic image display, the birefringent lens material containing two or more liquid crystal compounds each having at least one polymerizable functional group, a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display, the birefringent lens being formed by using the lens material, and a method for producing a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display using the lens material. The birefringent lens material for a stereoscopic image display and the birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display of the present invention are good in terms of optical characteristics, durability, and productivity, in particular, productivity. The method for producing a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display of the present invention has good productivity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymerizable composition useful as a liquid crystal device, a display, an optical member, a coloring agent, a security marking, and a laser light emitting member and a thin film obtained from the polymerizable composition. The present invention provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition having excellent solubility into a solvent, exhibiting good adhesion to a base material, and being capable of realizing a thin film having low haze and no variations and, in addition, provides a thin film having excellent appearance by using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition according to the present invention is used and, thereby, a composition and a thin film having low haze and no variations and, at the same time, having excellent adhesion to a base material can be obtained at a low cost.

Abstract: The present invention provides a birefringent lens material for a stereoscopic image display, the birefringent lens material containing two or more liquid crystal compounds each having at least one polymerizable functional group, a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display, the birefringent lens being formed by using the lens material, and a method for producing a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display using the lens material. The birefringent lens material for a stereoscopic image display and the birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display of the present invention are good in terms of optical characteristics, durability, and productivity, in particular, productivity. The method for producing a birefringent lens for a stereoscopic image display of the present invention has good productivity.