Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent, R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-14 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR2## m is 0-7; and n is 0 or 1; and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 respectively denote a single bond, --O--, ##STR4## Y.sub.1 denotes --CH.sub.2 O-- or --OCH.sub.2 --; and p and q are respectively 1 or 2.

Abstract: A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising at least one optically active compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-14 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; and X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, ##STR2## and at least one optically active compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear alkyl group having 1-14 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-14 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; and X.sub.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprises a pair of opposite electrodes and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the electrodes. At least one of the opposite electrodes is coated with a primer layer and an alignment layer on the primer layer. The alignment layer has a thickness d.sub.2 and is made of a material having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.2, and the primer layer has a thickness d.sub.1 and is made of a material having a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.1 which are greater than d.sub.2 and .epsilon..sub.2, respectively. The ferroelectric liquid crystal is at least one mesomorphic compound represented by the formula R.sub.1 --A.sub.1 --X--A.sub.2 --R.sub.2 wherein A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 respectively denote a 6-membered ring-containing divalent group; X denotes a single bond or a divalent chain group; and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 respectively denote a branch or linear chain group, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 being the same or different.

Abstract: An optically active mesomorphic compound represented by the formula (III) is obtained through an optically active compound represented by the formula (I) and then through a compound represented by the formula (II), respectively, shown below. ##STR1## In the above formulas, R represents a linear, branched or cyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group having 1-18 carbon atoms each capable of having a substituent, C* represents an asymmetric carbon atom, k is an integer of from 2 to 5, A is a releasable active group such as hydroxyl, l is 0 or 1, and when l is 1, m is 0, 1 or 2 and n is 0 or 1; R.sup.1 represents an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1-18 carbon atoms; ##STR2## respectively denote ##STR3## p, q and r are respectively 0 or 1 satisfying the relation of p+q+r.gtoreq.1.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound represented by the formula [I] below and at least one compound represented by the formula [II] below: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes an alkyl group having 1-16 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; R.sub.2 denotes any one of alkyl group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, acyloxy group and alkoxycarbonyloxy group, each having 1-16 carbon atoms and being capable of having a substituent; and A denotes any one of ##STR2## each capable of having a substituent; and ##STR3## wherein R.sub.3 denotes a linear alkyl group having 1-16 carbon atoms; R.sub.4 denotes a linear alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; X.sub.1 is a single bond, --O--, ##STR4## X.sub.2 is --OCH.sub.2 --, ##STR5## or --CH.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal apparatus includes a chiral smectic liquid crystal showing a first and a second orientation state disposed between first and second electrodes of a liquid cell. A drive circuit applies voltages between the first and second electrodes including voltages .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline. and .vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. which provide voltages V.sub.A and V.sub.B (V.sub.B V.sub.A) satisfying the relationship of: .vertline.(V.sub.A -V.sub.B)/(V.sub.A +V.sub.B).vertline.>0.1 at 40.degree. C. V.sub.A is a minimum peak value of a voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline. (at a constant pulse width) capable of inverting the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal into the second orientation state when a voltage pulse is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause the first orientation state of the chiral smectic liquid crystal and then the voltage .vertline.V.sub.S .vertline.+.vertline.V.sub.I .vertline.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device comprises a pair of opposite electrodes and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the electrodes. At least one of the opposite electrodes is coated with an insulating film having a thickness of 200 .ANG. or larger. The ferroelectric liquid crystal has a capacitance C.sub.LC measured in (nF/cm.sup.2) and a spontaneous polarization PS measured in (nC/cm.sup.2) and the insulating film has a capacitance Ci measured in (nF/cm.sup.2) wherein the magnitudes of C.sub.LC, Ps, and Ci satisfy the relationship ofCi.gtoreq.7.multidot.Ps-C.sub.LC.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a pair of parallel substrates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to have an arrangement of molecules forming a plurality of layers perpendicular to the faces of the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has an alignment control film formed of a modified polyvinyl alcohol resin having a function of aligning said plurality of layers preferentially in one direction. The modified polyvinyl alcohol resin film stably provides a uniform alignment state with a large tilt angle than a conventional alignment control film of polyimide or unmodified polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a pair of parallel substrates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates so as to have an arrangement of molecules forming a plurality of layers perpendicular to the faces of the substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates has an alignment control film formed of a modified polyvinyl alcohol resin having a function of aligning said plurality of layers preferentially in one direction. The modified polyvinyl alcohol resin film stably provides a uniform alignment state with a larger tilt angle than a conventional alignment control film of polyimide or unmodified polyvinyl alcohol.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member having an improved sensitivity and an improved potential stability when repeatedly copied by using a photosensitive layer containing a disazo pigment having a specific molecular structure.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photosensitive layer on a substrate, said photosensitive layer comprising a disazo pigment represented by the formula (1).

Abstract: A photosensitive member for electrophotography comprising a photosensitive layer containing an azo pigment selected from those represented by the following formulas (1)-(6): ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl, aralkyl, aryl, or acyl each capable of having a substituent; Ar is an arylene or heterocyclic group each capable of having a substituent; Ar is a coupler residue group having a phenolic OH group; B is hydrogen, nitroso, or an alkyl, aralkyl, aryl or acyl group capable of having a substituent; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photosensitive layer containing an azo pigment selected from the following general formulae (1) to (5): ##STR1## wherein groups Ar are arylene groups and divalent heterocyclic groups, each of which may contain a substituent; n is 0 or 1; and group A is a coupler residue group having a phenolic OH group.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises at least a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer on an electroconductive substrate, wherein said charge generation layer contains, as a binder, a polyvinylacetal resin obtained by acetalization reaction of polyvinyl alcohol and aldehyde compound represented by the following general formula:Ar-CHOwherein Ar stands for a substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member utilizing a novel electrophotographic photosensitive material, more particularly to an electrophotographic photosensitive member endowed with high sensitivity as well as excellent potential stability during repeated copying by incorporating an azo pigment having a specific molecular structure in the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a photosensitive layer containing an azo pigment selected from the general formulae (1) to (6).

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer, which is characterized in that the photosensitive layer comprises a binder and at least one hydrazone compound represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): ##STR1## In the formula; R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 independently of each other represent alkyl, aralkyl, or phenyl, each substituted or unsubstituted, or R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 form a 5- or 6-membered ring residue conjointly with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded; R.sub.13 and R.sub.14 independently of each other represent alkyl or alkoxy; R.sub.15 and R.sub.16 independently of each other represent alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl, wherein the aralkyl and the aryl are substituted or unsubstituted; and n represents a integer of 0 or 1. ##STR2## In the formula; R.sub.21 and R.sub.22 independently of each other represent alkyl, aralkyl, or phenyl, each substituted or unsubstituted, or R.sub.21 and R.sub.

Abstract: Photoconductive film having a photoconductive pigment obtained by silylation of pigment having at least one hydroxy group, and electrophotographic photosensitive member making use thereof.