Abstract: A layer of discotic liquid crystal having a molecular structure including a disk-shaped core and plural side chains connected to the core is disposed in contact with a substrate boundary provided with a homeotropic alignment power for aligning the side chains of the discotic liquid crystal molecules vertically to the boundary, whereby a uniform columnar structure vertical to the substrate of the discotic liquid crystal is formed. As a result, a discotic liquid crystal device having a stable homeotropic monodomain alignment can be formed from a wide scope of discotic liquid crystal materials.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each provided with an electrode, and a chiral smectic liquid crystal composition disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates is provided with an alignment control film of a polyimide represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## in which A denotes a planar tetravalent organic residue group; B denotes a divalent group represented by --CR.sub.1 (R.sub.2)-- where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently denote H or alkyl group; a, b and c are independently 0 or 1; x and y are independently an integer of at least 0 and x+y=at least 1; and n is an integer of at least 2.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to Claim 1 characterized by having at least two ether groups between alkylene groups in a specific alkoxy perfluoroalkyl terminal group is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by the formula R.sub.1 --A.sub.1 --A.sub.2 --X.sub.1 --A.sub.3 --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --L--A.sub.4 --R.sub.2, in which R.sub.1 is F, CN or straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl and R.sub.2 is H, F, CH or straight chain or branched alkyl; A.sub.3 is 1,4-phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyrimidine-2,5-diyl, pyrazine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl, 1,3-ditiane-2,5-diyl, thiophene-2,5-diyl, thiazole-2,5-diyl, thiaziazole-2,5-diyl, benzoxazole-2,5-diyl, benzoxazole-2,6-diyl, benzothiazole-2,5-diyl, benzothiazole-2,6-diyl, benzofuran-2,5-diyl, benzofuran-2,6-diyl, quinoxaline-2,6-diyl, quinoline-2,6-diyl, 2,6-naphthylene, indane-2,5-diyl, 2-alkylindane-2,5-diyl, indanone-2,6-diyl, 2-alkylindane-2,6-diyl, coumarane-2,5-diyl and 2-alkylcoumarane-2,5-diyl; A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.4 are single bond or A.sub.3 ; X.sub.1 ' is a single bond, --COO--, --OCO--, --CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.dbd.CH-- or --C.tbd.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) having a coumaran skeleton is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of electrode plates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a display apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by a formula (I) containing a quinoline-2,6-diyl skeleton is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of electrode plates. The liquid crystal device may preferably be used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: A mesomorphic 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 including one or non-neighboring two or more methylene groups which can be replaced with at least one species of ##STR2## with the proviso that X denotes O or S and Y denotes halogen; R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; A, B and D independently denote ##STR3## wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 independently denote hydrogen, halogen, --CH.sub.3, --CN or --CF.sub.3 ; E denotes --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 F or --CF.sub.3 ; and f and g independently denote 0 or 1. The mesomorphic compound is effective for providing a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition showing an improved response speed and also effective for suppressing occurrence of reverse domain.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 characterized by having at least one CF.sub.2 group between CH.sub.2 groups in a specific alkoxy alkyl terminal group is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by a formula (I) characterized by containing an oxazolidinone-3,5-diyl skeleton directly connected to cyclic groups in 3 and 5 positions is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of electrode plates. The liquid crystal device may preferably be used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

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 subtituent; X.sub.1 denotes a single bond, ##STR2## Z denotes a single bond or ##STR3## denotes ##STR4## and n is an integer of 1-12; and at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): ##STR5## wherein R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 respectively denote a linear or branched optically inactive alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having an alkoxy group of 1-12 carbon atoms; X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 respectively denote a single bond, ##STR6## and p and q are respectively 0, 1 or 2 with proviso that both of p and q are not 0.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are alkyl; X.sub.1 and X.sub.3 are a single bond, ##STR2## X.sub.2 is a single bond, ##STR3## A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are a single bond, aryl, heteroaryl, pyrimidyl or cyclohexyl, X.sub.4a, X.sub.5a, X.sub.4b, X.sub.5b, X.sub.4c and X.sub.5c are H, F, Cl, Br, --CH.sub.3, --CN or --CF.sub.3 ; and n is 0 or 1.

Abstract: An optically inactive mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms or a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1-18 carbon atoms; and m is an integer of 2-18, is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal device may preferably be used as a display panel constituting a liquid crystal apparatus providing good display characteristics.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response speed and decreased. The mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) is characterized by having at least one terminal cyclic group free from a side chain and also having a core structure including at least one group ##STR1## The above liquid crystal composition is useful as an element of a liquid crystal device and a display apparatus providing a good display characteristics.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by a pair of substrates each having an electrode thereon and disposed in parallel with each other, and a liquid crystal disposed between the substrates. At least one of the substrates has thereon an organic alignment film formed from at least one species of polymer including a polymer having an average molecular weight of at most 30,000.

Abstract: An optically inactive mesomorphic compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 characterized by having a terminal group of: --A.sub.3 --C.sub.r F.sub.2r+1, where A.sub.3 is a specific cyclic group and r is 2-18, is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response characteristics and a high contrast. A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing the liquid crystal composition between a pair of electrode plates. The liquid crystal device is used as a display panel constituting a display apparatus (or display method) providing good display characteristics.

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, ##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 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; R.sub.4 denotes a linear alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms; X.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates; at least one of which has thereon an alignment film comprising a polymer selected from Polymers (I)-(III) below:Polymer (I) which is a polymer composite comprising at least two polymer components including a polyamide represented by a structural unit of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 independently denote an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms;Polymer (II) which is a composite polyamide having at least two species of dicarboxylic acid-originated units each represented by formula (2) below: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.21 denotes a divalent organic residue group including an aromatic ring; and a diamine-originated unit represented by formula (3) below: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.22 and R.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a liquid crystal between a pair of substrates; at least one of which has thereon an alignment film comprising a polymer selected from Polymers (I)-(III) below:Polymer (I), which is a polymer composite comprising at least two polymer components including a polyamide represented by a structural unit of the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 independently denote an alkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms or a fluoroalkyl group having 1-10 carbon atoms;Polymer (II) which is a composite polyamide having at least two species of dicarboxylic acid-originated units each represented by formula (2) below: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.21 denotes a divalent organic residue group including an aromatic ring; and a diamine-originated unit represented by formula (3) below: ##STR3## wherein R.sub.22 and R.sub.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is constituted by disposing a chiral smectic liquid crystal between a pair of substrates. At least one of the pair of substrates is provided with an alignment film of a nitrogen-containing polymer, such as a polyimide, a polyamide or a polyamideimide, having a main chain including a structural unit represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a divalent aliphatic or aromatic group, and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently denote a monovalent aliphatic or aromatic group, and X denotes a positive integer.

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