Abstract: There is disclosed a biomass-derived epoxy compound as an epoxidized product of a raw-material biomass-derived compound having a weight-average molecular weight of 300 to 10000. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has a weight-average molecular weight of 600 to 20000 and is soluble in an organic solvent for the preparation of a varnish. The epoxy compound is prepared by dissolving the raw-material biomass-derived compound in an aqueous alkali solution; adding epichlorohydrin to the solution and heating the mixture; and evaporating epichlorohydrin from the heated mixture and precipitating a biomass-derived epoxy compound, in which the aqueous alkali solution has a pH of 13.5 to 11.0. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has both high solubility in organic solvents and satisfactory heat resistance and can be manufactured in a high yield on the basis of the raw material through a less number of processes.

Abstract: Provided is an environmentally friendly novel plant-based polycarbonate resin. Specifically, disclosed are: a plant-based polycarbonate resin which is a polymer derived from a plant-based material having a plurality of hydroxyl groups, in which molecules of the plant-based material are linked to each other through carbonate groups to form the polymer; and a production method of the polycarbonate resin.

Abstract: Disclosed is an organic light-emitting display device that comprises a light-emitting layer formable simply by a wet process and has a prolonged service life. Also disclosed is an organic light-emitting device that comprises an upper transparent electrode having a lowered wiring resistance that can lower wiring resistance-derived power consumption. Further disclosed are a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an organic light-emitting element having a prolonged service life. In a first embodiment, an organic light-emitting display device is provided that comprises a moisture capturing layer provided between an upper electrode and a lower electrode. In a second embodiment, an organic light-emitting apparatus is provided that comprises a metal substrate, an organic light-emitting element provided on the metal substrate, and an upper transparent electrode connected electrically to the metal substrate through a contact hole.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid-crystal display device capable of reducing leakage of light under a black state due to scattering from a liquid-crystal layer, and having high-contrast ratio, excellent image quality performance. The liquid-crystal display device comprises: a liquid-crystal panel including one pair of polarizers disposed on one pair of substrates, a liquid-crystal layer held in sandwiched form between the pair of substrates, and a group of electrodes formed on at least one of the pair of substrates for applying an electric field to the liquid-crystal layer; and a light source unit disposed outside the pair of substrates. The liquid-crystal layer includes a liquid-crystal material having an ordinary-light refractive index of at least 1.46, but up to 1.49, an extraordinary-light refractive index of at least 1.54, but up to 1.59, and a mean photoelastic constant of at least 8, but up to 25, and exhibiting a nematic phase.

Abstract: A recyclable epoxy resin composition using a plant biomass in a resin skeleton and a cured material of the epoxy resin composition, and various types of products using them are provided. The epoxy resin composition comprises an epoxy resin; and a curing agent, wherein the curing agent is a biomass-derived acid anhydride having an acid anhydride bonded via an ester linkage to a biomass with a weight-average molecular weight of 300 to 5000.

Abstract: Provided is an epoxy resin composition which excels in heat resistance properties and electrical properties, and is easily decomposable for the recycling of resources. The epoxy resin composition includes an epoxy compound and a curing agent, in which at least one of the epoxy compound and the curing agent contains a hydrolyzable tannin having a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 500 to 5000.

Abstract: A thermosetting resin composition comprises (A) a polymeric component having at least two polymerizable substituents in the molecule, (B) a compound having at least one polymerizable substituent in the molecule and (C) a living polymerization agent for curing the resin composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a biomass-derived epoxy compound as an epoxidized product of a raw-material biomass-derived compound having a weight-average molecular weight of 300 to 10000. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has a weight-average molecular weight of 600 to 20000 and is soluble in an organic solvent for the preparation of a varnish. The epoxy compound is prepared by dissolving the raw-material biomass-derived compound in an aqueous alkali solution; adding epichlorohydrin to the solution and heating the mixture; and evaporating epichlorohydrin from the heated mixture and precipitating a biomass-derived epoxy compound, in which the aqueous alkali solution has a pH of 13.5 to 11.0. The biomass-derived epoxy compound has both high solubility in organic solvents and satisfactory heat resistance and can be manufactured in a high yield on the basis of the raw material through a less number of processes.

Abstract: Provided is an electro-optical device which allows high-speed response and has high luminance and contrast.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal composition having low viscosity in a wide temperature range and to provide a liquid crystal device excellent in response speed in the wide temperature range, a compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2) is contained in the composition. In the general formulae (1) and (2), R1 and R2 are each independently selected from alkyl groups, alkoxy groups, F atom, Cl atom, OCF3, CF3, phenyl groups each having a substituent, and phenyl rings each connected with a bridging group and having a substituent.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a liquid-crystal display device capable of reducing leakage of light under a black state due to scattering from a liquid-crystal layer, and having high-contrast ratio, excellent image quality performance. The liquid-crystal display device comprises: a liquid-crystal panel including one pair of polarizers disposed on one pair of substrates, a liquid-crystal layer held in sandwiched form between the pair of substrates, and a group of electrodes formed on at least one of the pair of substrates for applying an electric field to the liquid-crystal layer; and a light source unit disposed outside the pair of substrates. The liquid-crystal layer includes a liquid-crystal material having an ordinary-light refractive index of at least 1.46, but up to 1.49, an extraordinary-light refractive index of at least 1.54, but up to 1.59, and a mean photoelastic constant of at least 8, but up to 25, and exhibiting a nematic phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polyimide resin composition which is composed of an acid dianhydride and a diamine compound and has a long-chain alkyl group in a side chain of the polyimide skeleton. The polyimide resin composition contains an aromatic component so that the weight ratio of the aromatic component relative to the total weight of the polyimide is not more than 20% (excluding 0%).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer filled between the pair of substrates and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on one of the pair of substrates for supplying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is configured so that a response time between a lowest brightness level and a highest brightness level is less than 16.7 ms, and the liquid crystal layer contains a range of 40% or more weight percentage to 100% or less weight percentage of a constituent component with a dielectric anisotropy of ???1.

Abstract: A photosensitive polyimide resin composition has: a polyimide resin composition having a polyimide copolymer that is prepared by an imidation reaction of an acid dianhydride with a diamine; and a photosensitizer added to the polyimide resin composition. The polyimide copolymer has a polyimide constitutional unit-to-substituent ratio of 200 to 600, and the polyimide constitutional unit-to-substituent ratio is defined as C=A/B, where A represents a molecular weight of a repeating unit in a polyimide main chain constituting the polyimide copolymer, and B represents a total number of substituents in the repeating unit.

Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal display device, having a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the pair of substrates, a light reflector section provided between the liquid crystal layer and one of the pair of substrates, and a polymeric medium layer with fine silver particles precipitated on the surface, as formed at the light reflector section. The reflection-type liquid crystal display is produced by the steps of: applying a mixture containing monovalent silver and a photosensitive polymeric medium; exposing the mixture to light, thereby photolithographically forming a light reflector layer of desired pattern; heating the light reflector layer under a predetermined temperature condition, thereby precipitating fine silver particles on the surface of the light reflector layer; and confronting a transparent substrate with the light reflector layer-formed substrate, and sandwiching a liquid crystal layer between the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer filled between the pair of substrates and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on one of the pair of substrates for supplying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is configured so that a response time between a lowest brightness level and a highest brightness level is less than 16.7 ms, and the liquid crystal layer contains a range of 40% or more weight percentage to 100% or less weight percentage of a constituent component with a dielectric anisotropy of &Dgr;&egr;≧1.

Abstract: In an active matrix type liquid crystal display device using a liquid crystal of negative dielectric anisotropy, low voltage driving and high quality display are made compatible. A liquid crystal display device 50 has: a pair of substrates 1, 14; a liquid crystal layer 9; a common electrode 2, a pixel electrode 5, a signal electrode 6, and an active element 16 arranged on the substrate 1 so that an electric field 25 parallel to the plane of the substrate is generated by applying a voltage; alignment film 8, 10 formed on the substrate 1, 14; and a polarizer 15; wherein the liquid crystal 9 of negative dielectric anisotropy containing liquid crystal molecule having dicyanobenzene structure in its molecule structure is used. Within the allowable range, in which the display quality of images of the liquid crystal display device is not lowered, the voltage holding rate is maintained, and low voltage driving becomes possible.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, and a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes formed on one of the pair of substrates for supplying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is configured so that a response time between a lowest brightness level and a highest brightness level is less than 16.7 ms.

Abstract: Realizing low driving voltage, high contrast, and high response speed in an active matrix type liquid crystal display device of the in-plane switching mode type.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent. A liquid crystal layer held between the pair of substrates and an alignment layer formed on at least one of the pair of substrates. The pair of substrates are adhered together using a resin so that an interval is formed therebetween, and a portion formed with the resin has at least an opening for injecting liquid crystal into the interval formed between the pair of substrates and the opening is sealed with a photo-curable resin. The liquid crystal layer includes a photo-reactive liquid crystal compound, the molecular structure of which is converted by photo-irradiation, and a photo-absorbing organic compound having a photo-absorptivity larger than the photo-absorptivity of the photo-reactive liquid crystal compound at a designated wavelength, and containing at least one of alkyl substituent, alkenyl substituent, and alkoxyl substituent, respectively, in its molecule.