Abstract: A material for liquid-crystal devices which have a low operating voltage in a normal mode or a reverse mode and high-contrast properties. The material for liquid-crystal devices is characterized by containing at least one polymerizable compound and at least one compound selected from among compounds represented by general formulae (K1) and (K2) and by comprising a liquid-crystal material.

Abstract: Provided is a reverse mode light scattering type liquid crystal device that is capable of withstanding practical use, has a low driving voltage, and shows a high haze when voltage is applied and a low haze when no voltage is applied. A reverse mode liquid crystal device includes a light control layer and at least a pair of electrodes, wherein the light control layer includes a polymerization product of a polymerizable material including: (A) a liquid crystal composition, (B) a perpendicular alignment agent, and (C) at least one polymerizable compound selected from polymer forming monomers and polymer forming oligomers.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composite that contains a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature, low minimum temperature, small viscosity, large optical anisotropy and large positive dielectric anisotropy, and that is suitable for dimming, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics; and a liquid crystal dimming device having the liquid crystal composite. The liquid crystal composite contains a polymer and a liquid crystal composition containing a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal composite may further contain a specific compound having high maximum temperature or low minimum temperature; or a specific compound having large negative dielectric anisotropy.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and is excellent in sensitivity to allow photoalignment even with exposure in a short period of time, and a liquid crystal alignment film having a high alignment stability of a liquid crystal compound from the photoalignable material. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer and a specific polymer that is reactive with the photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying the applied composition thereon, and irradiating the dried composition with light. Furthermore, the liquid crystal alignment film is manufactured by allowing alignment of molecules of the liquid crystal compound in the photoalignment film.

Abstract: To provide an optically anisotropic substance having a negative uniaxial phase difference film and a positive uniaxial phase difference film, and excellent heat resistance and sputtering resistance. The positive uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination with a bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the negative uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination of the bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound with an optically active compound having a polymerizable binaphthol moiety, and additional thermosetting treatment (postcure) is applied after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is photocured, and when glass transition temperature after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is cured is 85° C. or higher and 115° C. or lower, additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 220° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower, and when the glass transition temperature is higher than 115° C.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and is excellent in sensitivity to allow photoalignment even with exposure in a short period of time, and a liquid crystal alignment film having a high alignment stability of a liquid crystal compound from the photoalignable material. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer and a specific polymer that is reactive with the photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying the applied composition thereon, and irradiating the dried composition with light. Furthermore, the liquid crystal alignment film is manufactured by allowing alignment of molecules of the liquid crystal compound in the photoalignment film.

Abstract: To provide an optically anisotropic substance having a negative uniaxial phase difference film and a positive uniaxial phase difference film, and excellent heat resistance and sputtering resistance. The positive uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination with a bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound, the negative uniaxial phase difference film is formed in combination of the bifunctional polymerizable liquid crystal compound with an optically active compound having a polymerizable binaphthol moiety, and additional thermosetting treatment (postcure) is applied after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is photocured, and when glass transition temperature after the negative uniaxial phase difference film is cured is 85° C. or higher and 115° C. or lower, additional thermosetting treatment temperature is adjusted to 220° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower, and when the glass transition temperature is higher than 115° C.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and allows photoalignment with exposure in a short period of time. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer having a silicone group or a fluorine-substituted alkyl group, and a photoalignable group, and a specific non-photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying an applied surface thereon, and irradiating the applied surface with light.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and allows photoalignment with exposure in a short period of time. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer having a silicone group or a fluorine-substituted alkyl group, and a photoalignable group, and a specific non-photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying an applied surface thereon, and irradiating the applied surface with light.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and allows photoalignment with exposure in a short period of time. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer having a silicone group or a fluorine-substituted alkyl group, and a photoalignable group, and a specific non-photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying an applied surface thereon, and irradiating the applied surface with light.

Abstract: To provide a photoalignable material that can yield a photoalignable film having a high optical uniformity and no alignment defect, and is excellent in sensitivity to allow photoalignment even with exposure in a short period of time, and a liquid crystal alignment film having a high alignment stability of a liquid crystal compound from the photoalignable material. A photoalignable polymer composition containing a specific photoalignable polymer and a specific polymer that is reactive with the photoalignable polymer is manufactured, and the photoalignable film is manufactured by applying the polymer composition onto a base material or the like, drying the applied composition thereon, and irradiating the dried composition with light. Furthermore, the liquid crystal alignment film is manufactured by allowing alignment of molecules of the liquid crystal compound in the photoalignment film.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound represented by formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; X1 is a single bond, —O— or —OCO—; X2 is a single bond, —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; A1 and A2 are each independently a divalent aromatic ring or a divalent cyclohexane ring, and in these rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; Z1 is independently a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CON(R)— or —N(R)CO—; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is a terpenoid residue or a steroid residue; m is an integer from 0 to 20; and n is an integer from 0 to 3.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a photosensitive compound suitable for a photoalignment method, a photosensitive polymer prepared from the compound, a photoaligning agent by using the compound and a liquid crystal alignment film prepared from the photoaligning agent. A photosensitive compound represented by formula (1): in formula (1), Y1 is a divalent group represented by formula (2-1) or (2-2); A1 is 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1 is a single bond, —COO— or —OCO—; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, fluorine or alkyl having 1 to 5 carbons; Q1 is independently a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 12 carbons; and n is 0 or 1. In formulas (2-1) and (2-2), W1 and W2 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 3 carbons.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a photosensitive compound suitable for a photoalignment method, a photosensitive polymer prepared from the compound, a photoaligning agent by using the compound and a liquid crystal alignment film prepared from the photoaligning agent. A photosensitive compound represented by formula (1): in formula (1), Y1 is a divalent group represented by formula (2-1) or (2-2); A1 is 1,4-phenylene or 1,4-cyclohexylene; Z1 is a single bond, —COO— or —OCO—; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, fluorine or alkyl having 1 to 5 carbons; Q1 is independently a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 12 carbons; and n is 0 or 1. In formulas (2-1) and (2-2), W1 and W2 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 3 carbons.

Abstract: The polymerizable liquid crystal composition includes at least two selected from the group of compounds represented by the following Formulas (1) and (2): wherein m is 5 or 10; and wherein n is 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9, and R is hydrogen or methyl wherein said composition includes at most only two compounds of Formula (1) in which m is 10; and wherein said composition does not include a compound of Formula (2) in which n is 3 and R is hydrogen.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing at least one esterified product selected from the group consisting of (1) an esterified product of a hydrolysate of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B1) a carboxylic acid compound, (2) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of a hydrolysate of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B2) a carboxylic acid compound, and (3) an esterified product of a hydrogenated product of (A) a ?-oryzanol and (B3) a carboxylic acid compound. The ?-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one ferulate ester of a vegetable sterol and at least one ferulate ester of a triterpene alcohol, and the hydrolysate of the ?-oryzanol (A) is a mixture containing at least one vegetable sterol and at least one triterpene alcohol.

Abstract: A polymerizable cholesteric liquid crystal composition in the invention includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polymerizable ester compound (1) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having a ring structure, a polymerizable ester compound (2) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having no ring structures, and a polymerizable ester compound (3) having a residue of a hydrogenated product of ?-oryzanol.

Abstract: The invention provides a compound represented by formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; X1 is a single bond, —O— or —OCO—; X2 is a single bond, —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; A1 and A2 are each independently a divalent aromatic ring or a divalent cyclohexane ring, and in these rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; Z1 is independently a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CH?CH—COO—, —OCO—CH?CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CON(R)— or —N(R)CO—; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is a terpenoid residue or a steroid residue; m is an integer from 0 to 20; and n is an integer from 0 to 3.

Abstract: A polymerizable cholesteric liquid crystal composition in the invention includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a polymerizable ester compound (1) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having a ring structure, a polymerizable ester compound (2) having a residue of a hydrolysate of ?-oryzanol (A) and having no ring structures, and a polymerizable ester compound (3) having a residue of a hydrogenated product of ?-oryzanol.

Abstract: The polymerizable liquid crystal composition includes at least two selected from the group of compounds represented by the following Formulas (1) and (2): wherein m is 5 or 10; and wherein n is 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9, and R is hydrogen or methyl wherein said composition includes at most only two compounds of Formula (1) in which m is 10; and wherein said composition does not include a compound of Formula (2) in which n is 3 and R is hydrogen.