Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal compound that can obtain a high-speed response and a sufficient contrast ratio in switching of a display device. A compound represented by formula (1) described below is utilized. In formula (1), ring A is naphthylene, phenantolylene or anthracenylene, and in the groups, at least one piece of hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, —CH3, —C2H5, —CF3, —CHF2, —CH2F, —OCF3, —OCHF2 or —OCH2F; and X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 are independently hydrogen or fluorine, but at least two or more of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 is fluorine.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal compound that can obtain a high-speed response and a sufficient contrast ratio in switching of a display device. A compound represented by formula (1) described below is utilized. In formula (1), ring A is naphthylene, phenantolylene or anthracenylene, and in the groups, at least one piece of hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, —CH3, —C2H5, —CF3, —CHF2, —CH2F, —OCF3, —OCHF2 or —OCH2F; and X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 are independently hydrogen or fluorine, but at least two or more of X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 is fluorine.

Abstract: Rod-like molecules (1) are admixed into a smectic C liquid crystal (2). According to the least-energy principle for electrostatic energy each rod-like molecule (1) has its permanent dipole moment aligned in a direction along a boundary layer between adjacent molecular layers of the liquid crystal and such permanent dipoles in adjacent boundary layers are aligned with their dipole moments opposed to each other in the direction of orientation. The character “<” bar regions of rod-like molecules (1) cause liquid crystal molecules inclined along their major axes to be axially inclined in an opposite direction every other layer whereby a smectic CA phase is formed in which the layer of liquid crystal molecules inclined in one direction and the layer of those inclined in the other direction alternate.

Abstract: Rod-like molecules (1) are admixed into a smectic C liquid crystal (2). According to the least-energy principle for electrostatic energy each rod-like molecule (1) has its permanent dipole moment aligned in a direction along a boundary layer between adjacent molecular layers of the liquid crystal and such permanent dipoles in adjacent boundary layers are aligned with their dipole moments opposed to each other in the direction of orientation. The character “<” bar regions of rod-like molecules (1) cause liquid crystal molecules inclined along their major axes to be axially inclined in an opposite direction every other layer whereby a smectic CA phase is formed in which the layer of liquid crystal molecules inclined in one direction and the layer of those inclined in the other direction alternate.

Abstract: A color-forming recording material containing:(a) an aromatic diamine,(b) an oxidizing agent such as a quinoid type electron-accepting compound, and(c) an acidic substance such as an aromatic carboxylic acid.