Abstract: An agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound is capable of making a liquid surface express anisotropy in a simplified manner.

Abstract: An optical film, which has been subjected to an orientation treatment, containing a low-molecular weight compound, in which a birefringence ?n(550 nm) is larger than zero (0) in an orientation direction, and the optical film satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2); and a phase difference plate, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display using the same: 0.5<?n(450 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.0; and??Expression (1) 1.05<?n(630 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.5.

Abstract: An agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound is capable of making a liquid surface express anisotropy in a simplified manner.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for a photo-alignment film includes a compound expressed by the following general formula (I) and a compound expressed by the following general formula (II):

Abstract: A compound of formula (1): wherein A1 and A2 are —O—, —NR—, —S—, or —CO—, in which R is a hydrogen atom or substituent; Z is one or two atoms selected from a carbon atom or a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and forms a five- or six-membered ring with the C—C?C—C or C?C—C?C; R1, R2, and R3 each are a substituent; m is an integer of 0 to 4; L1 and L2 are a single bond or divalent linking group; X is a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and may have a hydrogen atom or R4; and at least one of R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 is substituted with a polymerizable group; a liquid crystal composition, an optical film, a retardation sheet, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound is represented by the following formula (1): P-Sp1-L1-M1-L2-Sp2-Ox ??(1) wherein P represents a polymerizable group; one of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a branched alkylene group, or an alkylene group containing, in the chain thereof, at least one divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —C?C— and —S—; the other of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a straight chain alkylene group; each of L1 and L2 independently represents a divalent linking group; M1 represents a mesogenic group; and Ox represents a substituent containing an oxetanyl group.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic material comprising at least one discotic compound having a cyclopropylcarbonyl group. The material is excellent in both the wavelength dispersion property and the refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: A compound of formula (1): wherein A1 and A2 are —O—, —NR—, —S—, or —CO—, in which R is a hydrogen atom or substituent; Z is one or two atoms selected from a carbon atom or a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and forms a five- or six-membered ring with the C—C?C—C or C?C—C?C; R1, R2, and R3 each are a substituent; m is an integer of 0 to 4; L1 and L2 are a single bond or divalent linking group; X is a non-metal atom of Group 14, 15 or 16 in the Periodic Table, and may have a hydrogen atom or R4; and at least one of R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 is substituted with a polymerizable group; a liquid crystal composition, an optical film, a retardation sheet, a polarizing plate, and a liquid crystal display.

Abstract: A polymerizable liquid crystal compound is represented by the following formula (1): P-Sp1-L1-M1-L2-Sp2-Ox ??(1) wherein P represents a polymerizable group; one of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a branched alkylene group, or an alkylene group containing, in the chain thereof, at least one divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —C?C— and —S—; the other of Sp1 and Sp2 represents a straight chain alkylene group; each of L1 and L2 independently represents a divalent linking group; M1 represents a mesogenic group; and Ox represents a substituent containing an oxetanyl group.

Abstract: An agent comprising a substituted aromatic azo compound is capable of making a liquid surface express anisotropy in a simplified manner.

Abstract: Provided is a composition for a photo-alignment film includes a compound expressed by the following general formula (I) and a compound expressed by the following general formula (II):

Abstract: An optical film, which has been subjected to an orientation treatment, containing a low-molecular weight compound, in which a birefringence ?n(550 nm) is larger than zero (0) in an orientation direction, and the optical film satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2); and a phase difference plate, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display using the same: 0.5<?n(450 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.0; and??Expression (1) 1.05<?n(630 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.5.

Abstract: Disclosed is a composition comprising at least one polymer compound represented by formula (1) below, and at least one polymerizable compound.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic element comprises a discotic compound. The discotic compound has an oriented discotic plane. The discotic compound has a molecular structure including a discotic core and 3 to 20 combinations of ester bonds (—O—CO—) and 1- or 2-alkenyl groups. The alkenyl group can have a polymerizable group as a substituent group positioned at the terminal. A polymerizable discotic compound having an oriented discotic plane can be polymerized to form an optically anisotropic element. Alignment of the oriented discotic plane is fixed by polymerization. A new triphenylene compound is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic material comprising at least one discotic compound having a cyclopropylcarbonyl group. The material is excellent in both the wavelength dispersion property and the refractive index anisotropy.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic element comprises a discotic compound. The discotic compound has an oriented discotic plane. The discotic compound has a molecular structure represented by the formula (I) of D(—O—CO—CR1?CR2—X—R3)n. In the formula (I), D is a discotic core, n is an integer of 3 to 20, each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, a halogen atom or an alkyl group, X is —O—, —S— or —NR—, and R3 is an alkyl group or an aryl group. A polymerizable discotic compound having an oriented discotic plane can be polymerized to form an optically anisotropic element. Alignment of the oriented discotic plane is fixed by polymerization. A new discotic compound is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a retardation film (optical compensation sheet) using a liquid crystal compound excellent in both the wavelength dispersion property and the refractive index anisotropy, disclosed is a retardation film having an optically anisotropic layer formed of a compound represented by formula (I): [(R1)a—M—(L1)]b—(L2), wherein R1 represents an alkyl group, at least one —CH2— group in the alkyl group may be substituted by —O—, —S—, —C(?O)—, —N(R2)—, —CH?CH— or —C?C—, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, M represents a group comprising three or more aromatic rings, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent alkylene group, the —CH2— group in the alkylene group may be substituted by —O—, —S—, —C(?O)— or —N(R2)—, L2 represents a b-valent cyclic, alkene or alkyne group, a represents the number of R1s substituted to M, and b represents an integer of 2 to 6.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic element comprises a discotic compound. The discotic compound has an oriented discotic plane. The discotic compound has a molecular structure represented by the formula (I) of D(—O—CO—CR1?CR2—X—R3)n. In the formula (I), D is a discotic core, n is an integer of 3 to 20, each of R1 and R2 is hydrogen, a halogen atom or an alkyl group, X is —O—, —S— or —NR—, and R3 is an alkyl group or an aryl group. A polymerizable discotic compound having an oriented discotic plane can be polymerized to form an optically anisotropic element. Alignment of the oriented discotic plane is fixed by polymerization. A new discotic compound is also disclosed.

Abstract: An optically anisotropic element comprises a discotic compound. The discotic compound has an oriented discotic plane. The discotic compound has a molecular structure including a discotic core and 3 to 20 combinations of ester bonds (—O—CO—) and 1- or 2-alkenyl groups. The alkenyl group can have a polymerizable group as a substituent group positioned at the terminal. A polymerizable discotic compound having an oriented discotic plane can be polymerized to form an optically anisotropic element. Alignment of the oriented discotic plane is fixed by polymerization. A new triphenylene compound is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide a retardation film (optical compensation sheet) using a liquid crystal compound excellent in both the wavelength dispersion property and the refractive index anisotropy, disclosed is a retardation film having an optically anisotropic layer formed of a compound represented by formula (I): [(R1)a-M-(L1)]b-(L2), wherein R1 represents an alkyl group, at least one —CH2— group in the alkyl group may be substituted by —O—, —S—, —C(═O)—, —N(R2)—, —CH═CH— or —C≡C—, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, M represents a group comprising three or more aromatic rings, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent alkylene group, the —CH2— group in the alkylene group may be substituted by —O—, —S—, —C(═O)— or —N(R2)—, L2 represents a b-valent cyclic, alkene or alkyne group, a represents the number of R1s substituted to M, and b repres