Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal device is described. The device comprises a pair of substrates, an electrode arrangement formed on the inside surface of the substrates, an orientation control surface provided on the inside surface of one of said substrates, and a blended ferroelectric liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. By suitably preparing the liquid crystal, multi-micro-domains are formed in the liquid crystal. By virtue of the multi-micro-domains, the contrast ratio and the response speed are significantly improved.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition exhibiting a chiral smectic C phase, in which the tilt angle with an electric field applied is from 12.degree. to 18.degree. and the tilt angle during memory is from 8.degree. to 15.degree., and a liquid crystal display device are disclosed. The composition has high memory effects, high display contrast, and high rate of reponse.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 9 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 3 to 7 carbon atoms; m and n each represent 1 or 2 provided that they do not simultaneously represent 1; and C.sup.*1 and C.sup.*2, both represent an optically active carbon atom, and a liquid crystal composition containing the same are disclosed. The compound exhibits chiral nematic and smectic phases and are excellent as a chiral dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystal compositions or nematic liquid crystal compositions.