Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal cured layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each of which suppresses streak defects and has excellent temporal stability. The liquid crystal composition includes a liquid crystal compound and a basic compound, in which a pKa of a conjugate acid of the basic compound is 4 to 10.

Abstract: Provided is a compound which is capable of reducing a tilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule, and a polymerizable composition, a cured product, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each using the compound. The compound is represented, for example, by Formula (I), P-Sp-Z-G1-(X1-Cy1)n-(X2-A1)m-X3-A2.

Abstract: Provided is a liquid crystal composition capable of suppressing a decrease in phase transition temperature from a smectic phase to a nematic phase and suppressing alignment defects in a liquid crystal cured layer thus formed, a liquid crystal cured layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition includes a liquid crystal compound exhibiting a smectic phase and a freezing point depressant, in which the liquid crystal compound is a compound represented by Formula (I) SP1-MG-SP2, and the liquid crystal composition satisfies Expression (1) |Am?Asl?0.2 and Expression (2-1) in a case of Am?As, Aa?(Am+As)/2 or Expression (2-2) in a case of Am>As, Aa?(Am+As)/2.

Abstract: Provided are a liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal cured layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each of which suppresses streak defects and has excellent temporal stability. The liquid crystal composition includes a liquid crystal compound and a basic compound, in which a pKa of a conjugate acid of the basic compound is 4 to 10.

Abstract: Provided is a polymerizable liquid crystal composition capable of suppressing the generation of precipitates; and an optically anisotropic layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a forward wavelength dispersion liquid crystal compound A having an aromatic ring having 10 or more ? electrons and a forward wavelength dispersion liquid crystal compound B having an aromatic ring having 6 or more and less than 10 ? electrons.

Abstract: An optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each having an optically anisotropic layer obtained by curing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound (LCC) having forward wavelength dispersion and a monofunctional compound, and immobilizing an alignment state of the polymerizable LCC. The number a1 of atoms of the polymerizable LCC and the number a2 of atoms of the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (1): 0.2<a2/a1<0.55; the number b1 of the rings B1 contained in the polymerizable LCC and the total number b2 of the aromatic rings Ar and the rings B2 contained in the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (2): b2=b1×0.5 or b2=(b1+1)×0.5.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a support; an alignment layer that is provided on one surface of the support and has an uneven structure in which a recess portion and a protrusion portion are alternately provided, the recess portion extending in a line shape including a curve having a curvature of 3.0 mm?1 or higher, and the protrusion portion extending in a line shape including a curve having a curvature of 3.0 mm?1 or higher; and a liquid crystal layer having an alignment pattern in which an optical axis of a liquid crystal molecule is parallel to the surface of the support and is aligned along the recess portion and the protrusion portion in the alignment layer.

Abstract: An optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each having an optically anisotropic layer obtained by curing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including immobilizing an alignment state of a rod-shaped liquid crystal compound (LCC) having reverse wavelength dispersibility and a monofunctional compound, in which the rod-shaped LCC has polymerizable groups P1 and P2, and three or more rings B1 selected from the group consisting of an aromatic ring and an alicyclic ring a1 atoms of the rod-shaped LCC and a2 atoms of the monofunctional compound having polymerizable group P3, satisfy a relationship of Expression (1): 0.2<a2/a1<0.55; b1 of the rings B1 contained in the rod-shaped LCC and a total b2 of the rings B2 and the aromatic rings Ar contained in the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (2): b2=b1×0.5 or b2=(b1+1)×0.5.

Abstract: Provided is a compound which is capable of reducing a tilt angle of a liquid crystal molecule, and a polymerizable composition, a cured product, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each using the compound. The compound is represented, for example, by Formula (I), P-Sp-Z-G1-(X1-Cy1)n-(X2-A1)m-X3-A2.

Abstract: Provided is a compound having a wide temperature range exhibiting liquid crystallinity and excellent precipitation suppression and solubility; and a polymerizable composition, a cured product, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device, each using the compound. The compound is represented, for example, by Formula (1) or (2).

Abstract: An optical element includes: a support; an alignment layer that is provided on one surface of the support and has an uneven structure in which a recess portion and a protrusion portion are alternately provided, the recess portion extending in a line shape including a curve having a curvature of 3.0 mm?1 or higher, and the protrusion portion extending in a line shape including a curve having a curvature of 3.0 mm?1 or higher; and a liquid crystal layer having an alignment pattern in which an optical axis of a liquid crystal molecule is parallel to the surface of the support and is aligned along the recess portion and the protrusion portion in the alignment layer.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film having an excellent film contrast and improved moisture-heat resistance, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The optical film has an optically anisotropic film obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, and a photo-alignment film, in which the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1): L1-SP1-E1-Cy2-Cy1-D1-Ar1-D2-Cy3-Cy4-E2-SP2-L2 and the optically anisotropic film satisfies Formula (I): Re(450)/Re(550)<1 or Formula (II): Rth(450)/Rth(550)<1 and exhibits a diffraction peak derived from a periodic structure in X-ray diffraction measurement.