Abstract: According to a composition for a photo-alignment film of the present invention, which includes an azo compound and a polymer that exhibits mutual solubility with the azo compound, an adhesion to a substrate, particularly to a plastic substrate, is improved within both a photo-alignment film having a haze of not more than 1 obtained by forming a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film on a substrate and subsequently irradiating the layer with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability; and an optically anisotropic medium, wherein a layer (A) obtained by irradiating a layer of the above composition for a photo-alignment film with light to generate a liquid crystal alignment ability, and a polymer layer (B) obtained by polymerizing a liquid crystal compound having a polymerizable group in an aligned state generated by the layer (A) are bonded and laminated together by covalent bonds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal photoalignment agent that includes a compound selected from the group consisting of a polyamic acid having a predetermined chemical formula, a polyimide polymer having a predetermined chemical formula, and a combination thereof, and a polyimide photopolymer. The liquid crystal photoalignment agent shows a long life-span, stably maintains a pretilt angle, and shows improved after-image characteristics, liquid crystal alignment properties, and chemical resistance.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device that includes an array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal display layer is described. The array substrate includes a pixel electrode and a lower alignment layer. The pixel electrode has a plurality of slit portions extending in different directions. The lower alignment layer includes a reactive mesogen (RM) diamine is formed on the pixel electrode to induce an alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules. An upper alignment layer is formed on a common electrode of the opposite substrate. The RM is cured at surfaces of the lower and upper alignment layers in response to ultraviolet (UV) light, so that liquid crystal molecules have a pretilt angle. Therefore, the aperture ratio and the response time may be improved, and afterimages may be decreased, so that display quality may be improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is an epoxy compound for a liquid crystal photo-alignment agent, a liquid crystal photo-alignment agent, and a liquid crystal photo-alignment film. The epoxy compound is represented by the following Chemical Formula 1. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as defined in the specification. Since the epoxy compound according to an embodiment of the present invention may be prepared through a simple manufacturing process, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal photo-alignment agent and a liquid crystal photo-alignment film that are economical and have excellent substrate printability and reliability, and superb photoelectric characteristics.

Abstract: The liquid crystal alignment agent according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a soluble polyimide polymer of Formula 1 and a solvent. The soluble polyimide polymer has a number average molecular weight of about 10,000 to 500,000 g/mol, and a polydispersity of about 1.2 to about 1.75. The liquid crystal alignment agent can have good printability on a substrate, and thereby can provide a liquid crystal alignment film that can have excellent film uniformity, even though its predrying temperature is varied.

Abstract: A photoalignment compound is represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, wherein “x” represents an integer in a range of 1 to 4, each of R1 and R2 represents —(CH2)n—, “n” represents an integer in a range of 1 to 6, at least one of the (—CH2—)s in R1 is replaceable with R3 represents —(CH2)mCH3, “m” represents an integer in a range of 1 to 12, each hydrogen atom of R3 is replaceable with F or Cl, R4 represents an amino group, aniline group, carboxy group, hydroxyl group, cyano group, alkylene group, or functional groups being represented by the following Chemical Formulas 2, 3, 4, or 5, each hydrogen atom of Chemical Formula 1 is replaceable with —O(CH2)kCH3, —(CH2)kCH3, F, or Cl, and “k” represents an integer in a range of 1 to 3, or 0.

Abstract: An organic composition having liquid-crystal alignment characteristics includes a photosensitive compound and a binder resin represented by Formula 1 below: wherein each R1 is independently hydrogen or a methyl group; R2 is an alkyl group of 4-16 carbon atoms; R3 is an alkyl group of 1-7 carbon atoms, a cyclooxyalkyl group of 1-7 carbon atoms, a benzyl group, or a phenyl group; l, m, and n represent molar ratios of polymerization units and are respectively from about 0.01 to about 0.50, from about 0.10 to about 0.60, and from about 0.03 to about 0.50.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device includes two cell walls enclosing a layer of a nematic liquid crystal material, means for applying an electric field across at least some of the layer, and means for inducing local planar alignments of said liquid crystal material at an inner surface of each cell wall. The local planar alignments are oriented to each other at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. The device also includes means for selectively masking an alignment effect of either of the local planar alignments by applying a unidirectional electric field pulse of suitable magnitude and duration to stabilise the device in one of two different homeoplanar configurations determined by the polarity of the pulse.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal alignment film composition including at least one type of triphenylene compound (I) represented by the following general formula (1): wherein L represents —O— or —S—, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 may be identical or different and represent a hydrocarbon group having four or more carbon atoms, R6 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having four or more carbon atoms, R7 represents —SiR8R9R10 or —P(?O)(OH)2, and R8, R9 and R10 may be identical or different and represent —Cl, —OH, —OCH3 or —OC2H5).

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions, devices and methods related to the alignment of materials including polymers. In some cases, the present invention comprises the assembly of molecules (e.g., polymers) via intermolecular interactions to produce extended networks, which may have enhanced properties relative to the individual molecules. Such networks may be advantageous for use in electronics, photovoltaics, sensor applications, and the like. In some embodiments, the present invention may enhance the performance of certain optical devices, such as liquid crystal displays (e.g., color liquid crystal displays) by providing enhanced contrast ratio, faster response times, and/or lower operating voltage.

Abstract: A method for alignment treatment of a substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes the steps of: forming an alignment film including a plurality of molecules with curable parts on a substrate; applying an electrical field on the substrate to rotate the curable parts; and curing the curable parts such that the curable parts are cured along a first direction. A manufacturing method of the LCD device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A chromonic nanoparticle mixture prepared by combining (i) a continuous water-soluble polymer phase and (ii) a discontinuous chromonic phase comprising a chromonic material; and non-covalently crosslinking the resulting chromonic nanoparticles with a polyvalent cation salt.

Abstract: An optical element and a process for producing the optical element are provided. The optical element includes a light transparent substrate and a first birefringence layer provided on the substrate. The first birefringence layer includes a polymerizable liquid crystal having rodlike molecules and a coupling agent and/or a surfactant that homeotropically align the polymerizable liquid crystal to form a crosslinked polymer in a state of homeotropic alignment. The crosslinked polymer has a three-dimensionally crosslinked structure wherein the polymerizable liquid crystal having rodlike molecules holds homeotropic alignment.

Abstract: A method for forming an alignment layer for a liquid crystal display is disclosed. The method includes preparing a substrate and depositing an alignment layer on the substrate. The method also includes applying one of an electric field and a magnetic field to the alignment layer to set an alignment direction of the alignment layer.

Abstract: A photo alignment material includes a photo alignment polymer and an organic solvent. The photo alignment polymer is prepared by polymerizing a diamine monomer including at least two photo reactive parts represented by the following Chemical Formula 1. In Chemical Formula 1, R1 represents —(CH2)n—, —O(CH2)n— or R2, R3 and R4 each independently represent —H, —O(CH2)m-1—CH3 or and n and m independently represent an integer of from 1 to 8. Thus, change of the orientation of the alignment layer due to the action of an electric stress may be prevented and/or reduced. Therefore, an after-image may be reduced, and display quality is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a free radical polymerizable liquid crystal alignment agent having superior coating ability, a manufacturing method, which comprises the process of coating the liquid crystal alignment agent onto a substrate, carrying out dehydration/ring-closure and free radical polymerization, enables obtaining a liquid crystal alignment film with superior reliability, superior voltage holding ratio and easy control of pretilt angle, and enables the manufacture of a liquid crystal display element provided with a liquid crystal alignment film. The free radical polymerizable liquid crystal alignment agent comprises a molecular compound containing at least 2 polymerizable maleamic acid groups and an organic solvent.

Abstract: A liquid crystal alignment solution is provided. The liquid crystal alignment solution includes a first polyimide-polyamide acid and a second polyimide-polyamide acid. The first polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (A), and the second polyimide-polyamide acid is represented by formula (B), in which T1, T2, T3 and T4 are each independently a tetravalent residue of a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride; D1, D2, D3 and D4 are each independently a divalent residue of a diamine; and m, n, p and q are each independently an positive integer, wherein m/(m+n)?0.5 and p/(p+q)?0.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of liquid-crystal films and coatings from substituted poly-para-xylylenes to be used as alignment layers in different electrooptical devices (alphameric indicators, displays, optical shutters, etc.). Particularly, the invention is directed to a one-step method for producing a liquid-crystal polymer film of the substituted poly-para-xylylene, said film simultaneously exhibiting the orienting properties with respect to LC molecules. The essence of a claimed method is in production of films and coatings from the substituted poly-para-xylylene by means of the successive execution in vacuum of sublimation at 0-350° C. and pyrolysis at 450-700° C. of the substituted cyclic di-para-xylylene in which substituent groups have terminal mesogenic groups, and condensation of the pyrolysis-generated substituted para-xylylene simultaneously with its polymerization on a substrate at 150-320° C. The process is performed at a predetermined film formation rate on the substrate surface.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal aligning agent which gives a coating film with good uniformity regardless of drying temperature after coating, and a liquid crystal alignment film having good coating film uniformity. A liquid crystal aligning agent comprising at least one polymer selected from a polyamic acid and a soluble polyimide, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, and dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and a liquid crystal alignment film obtained by printing this liquid crystal aligning agent by a flexographic printing method.

Abstract: A composition for forming an alignment film used during formation of an alignment film with a droplet discharge method includes a solute, a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent. The solute includes an alignment film formation material. The first organic solvent dissolves the solute. The second organic solvent is for controlling surface tension. The first organic solvent includes a solvent having a lowest vapor pressure among all of solvent components in the composition.

Abstract: A composition for forming an alignment film used during formation of an alignment film with a droplet discharge method includes a solute, a first organic solvent and a second organic solvent. The solute includes an alignment film formation material. The first organic solvent dissolves the solute. The second organic solvent is for controlling surface tension. The second organic solvent has an alkyl end group.

Abstract: Shape-persistent organic materials, including polymers, with large degrees of interior free volume are described, along with behaviors and phenomena enabled by their unique properties. One class of such a material is built up from triptycene base moieties wherein three benzene rings are bridged together about a [2.2.2] tricyclic ring system. These units can be assembled into discreet molecules and polymers. These materials and/or formulations thereof with liquid crystals or polymers are useful for the complexation of chemicals and/or polymers; they have very low dielectric constants for use as coatings in dielectric circuits, they provide additional ordering mechanisms in liquid crystals, and they display unusual mechanical responses when subjected to electrochemical, chemical, or mechanical stimuli.

Abstract: An exemplary alignment film includes a plurality of orientation type molecules arranged homogeneously, and the orientation type molecules are arranged according to a direction of a field when the alignment film is formed. A liquid crystal panel using the alignment film and an exemplary method for fabricating the alignment film are also provided.

Abstract: An optical compensation film capable of contributing to improvement in a viewing angle characteristic of a liquid crystal display device, especially an IPS mode liquid crystal display device is proposed. A composition comprises at least one onium salt, at least one rod-like liquid crystalline compound, and at least one additive capable of promoting a vertical alignment of molecules of the rod-like liquid crystalline compound at an air interface; and an optical compensation film comprising an optically anisotropic layer formed of the composition are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photoalignable material comprising a photoactive stilbazolium-containing polymer of formula I: wherein, Ma, Mb, Mc are monomer units making up the polymer; x, y, z, are mole fractions of the monomer units Ma, Mb, Mc, wherein in each case 0<x?1; 0?y<1, 0?z<1; Sa and Sb are spacer units; Za is a stilbazolium unit which can undergo photochemical isomerization/dimerization reactions; Zb is a stilbazole unit, and n varies from 4 to 10,000. The present invention also relates to a display using a layer of the photoaligned material and methods for aligning the orientation layer as well as orienting a liquid crystal layer applied to the photoaligned orientation layer.

Abstract: A foil moveable by non-mechanical means, such as light or heat, comprises an alternating array of first and second foil sections each resiliently and non-mechanically moveable between a flattened state and a bent state. The direction in which the first foil sections bend, when moved from the flattened to the bent state, is opposite to the direction in which the second foil sections bend when moved from the flattened to the bent state. When, in the flattened state, non-mechanically stimulating the first and second foil sections in unison, the first and second foil sections bend in opposite directions causing the foil to wrinkle, which results in a movement which is substantially linear. Using a different or removing the non-mechanical stimulus, the foil sections can be made to unbend resulting in a flattening and expansion of the foil to its original shape.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerised liquid crystal (LC) film comprising at least one photoisomerisable compound and having a pattern of regions with different retardation and/or different orientation of the LC material, to methods of preparing such a film, and to its use as alignment layer, optical retardation film or optical waveguide in liquid crystal displays or other optical or electrooptical components or devices, or for decorative or security applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal mixed-composition comprising one or more cellulose derivatives and one or more liquid crystal compounds (preferably low-molecular liquid crystal compound) which can be oriented in a specific direction differing from that of the cellulose derivative, wherein the ratio by weight of the both is preferably in a range from 1:9 to 9:1, a retardation film produced using the composition, a circularly or elliptically polarizing film using the retardation film and an image display device provided with a circularly or elliptically polarizing film. The liquid crystal mixed-composition can be easily oriented in a specific direction on a rubbed substrate. If this orientation is fixed, a retardation film can be easily obtained which has such wavelength dispersion characteristics that the same level of retardation can be imparted to each wavelength in a wide visible region.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel photochromic liquid crystal materials which may be used in various electro-optic devices including liquid crystal devices. The materials can be converted into another form on irradiation by light which may make it feasible for them to be addressed by light in electro-optic devices. The materials are based on 5-membered heterocycles.

Abstract: A polymerisable mixture that can be applied as a layer, an orientation layer of the mixture, and an optical component, such as a retarder or a liquid crystal display, having a layer of which the mixture is a precursor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal alignment layer of a liquid crystal display that can minimize drop blemishes of liquid crystal in the ODF process. The present invention provides a composition of a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising a diamine compound represented by Formula 1 below, an acid anhydride, and a solvent, in which the diamine compound represented by Formula 1 has a concentration of 15-40 mol %: where R is a C10-C30 saturated or unsaturated alkyl, allyl, or aromatic hydrocarbon that is substituted by a heteroatom or is unsubstituted. The invention also provides a liquid crystal alignment layer and a liquid crystal display that comprises the liquid crystal alignment layer.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel is provided that has a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a pair of substrates, wherein the liquid crystal layer comprises a liquid crystal and a cross-linked resin, the cross-linked resin comprises a cross-linked structural part adhered to a liquid crystal layer contacting surface and a terminal part rising from the liquid crystal layer contacting surface, and at least one of three conditions: the outer surface of at least one substrate is curved; a liquid crystal layer contacting surface is curved; and the thickness of one of the substrates is not more than ½ of the thickness of the other substrate, is satisfied. It is possible to obtain a liquid crystal panel having increased freedom in the appearance, device weight reduction, simplified structure, etc. by improving the outer and/or inner surfaces of the device.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a liquid crystal device including a substrate and an inorganic homeotropic alignment layer made of an inorganic material and aligning liquid crystal molecules having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy in a direction tilted at a predetermined angle from the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The method includes forming the inorganic homeotropic alignment layer and treating the surface of the inorganic homeotropic alignment layer with an aluminate coupling agent.

Abstract: A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device comprises two cell walls enclosing a layer of nematic liquid crystal material having finely divided solid particles dispersed therein. At least one electrode on each cell wall applies an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. Surface alignments on the inner surface of both cell walls induce adjacent molecules of the liquid crystal material to adopt desired orientations. The liquid crystal material adopts two different stable molecular configurations according to the polarity of applied electric field pulses.

Abstract: A 4-aminopyridinium compound is represented by the formula (I) or (II). in which each of L1 and L3 is —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —C?C—, —CH?CH—, —CH?N—, —N?CH— or —N?N—; L2 is a single bond, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —C?C—, —CH?CH—, —CH?N—, —N?CH— or —N?N—; m is 0 or 1; each of p and q is 1 to 10; each of R1 and R2 is an alkyl group or R1 and R2 are combined to form a ring; Z is cyano, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acylalkyl group, an acylalkoxy group, an acyloxyalkyl group or an acyloxyalkoxy group; each of R3, R4 and R5 is a halogen atom; each of n1, n2 and n3 is 0 or 1; and X is an anion.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal aligning agent which can provide a liquid crystal display element having a liquid crystal alignment film provided with alignability for liquid crystal molecules by rubbing without fail and having excellent liquid crystal alignability. The liquid crystal aligning agent comprises at least one selected from a polyamic acid having a specific structure having 2 or 3 rings, and an imidized polymer of the polyamic acid and further having alkyl group having the main chain with 8 or more carbon atoms, perfluoroalkyl group having the main chain with 3 or more carbon atoms, or 1,1-cycloalkylene group having 6 or more carbon atoms which may be substituted.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystal alignment layer comprising an alignment layer; and chemically bound to said alignment layer, a transport material. Also provided are methods for forming the liquid crystal alignment layer and the use thereof in displays for electronic apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the aligned liquid crystal layer contains an azolium salt represented by formula (I): wherein the subscripts represent the ring positions and each X is independently N or C—R; each Z is independently N, N—R, C—(R)(R), O, S, SO2, SO, C?O, C?S, or C?NR; each R group is independently hydrogen or a substituent; and Y is a charge balancing anion, which may be a separate moiety or part of an X, Z, or R; provided two or more X, Z and R groups may form a ring; provided the salt may be part of an oligomer or polymer. Such a film provides a predetermined increase in pre-tilt angle for use in liquid crystal devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal aligning agent which provides a liquid crystal alignment film having surface anchoring force and pretilt angle development stability by an optical aligning method. The liquid crystal aligning agent comprises a polymer having a photo-crosslinkable structure a structure having at least one group selected from the group consisting of a fluorine-containing organic group, an alkyl group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and alicyclic organic group having 10 to 30 carbon atoms and optionally, (C) a thermally crosslinkable structure.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to stable emissive aggregates of polymers. The aggregates are composed of various polymer molecules arranged in such a way as to allow extended electronic couplings between nearby polymer molecules, enhancing exciton transport, while minimizing the effects of quenching due to interchain interactions. For example, the polymer molecules may be arranged in a non-aligned, electronically-communicative manner (for example, at an oblique angle), stabilized by various methods such as chemical linkages or physical interactions. Within the aggregate, electronic interactions along the polymer molecule may extend to nearby polymer molecules, which may be observed as a shift in the absorption spectra relative to a random dispersion. Light emitted from the aggregate may be polarized in some cases, for example, linearly or circularly, which may be caused by chiral arrangements of polymers within the aggregate (the polymers themselves may or may not be chiral).

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises first and second substrates, a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer includes polyethyleneimine, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises first and second substrates; a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer includes (spacer S is oxygen, m=10˜10,000), the functional group R includes photo-sensitive constituents and/or non-photo-sensitive constituents, the photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of cinnamoyl derivatives, the non-photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of CnH2n, CnH2n+1, CnH2nOH, COCnH2n+1, COCnH2n, CnH2n+1?xFx, CnH2n?(x?1)F(x?1), CnH2n?xFxOH, COCnH2n+1?xFx (n=1˜10, x=1˜2n+1), and a combination thereof; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprises liquid crystal molecules and an alignment promoter. The alignment promoter is represented by the formula (I): (Hb-L1-)nBl??(I). In the formula (I), Hb is an aliphatic group having 4 to 40 carbon atoms, an aromatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms or an aliphatic substituted oligosiloxanoxy group having 1 to 40 carbon atoms. L1 is a single bond or a divalent linking group, and n is an integer of 2 to 12. Bl is an n-valent group comprising at least two rings.

Abstract: The invention provides liquid crystal switching devices, liquid crystal cells made from the switching devices, and electrooptical cells made from the switching devices. The invention further provides methods for methods for changing the orientation of a liquid crystal in a liquid crystal switching device. The liquid crystal switching devices are constructed from a redox-active material supported by a substrate and a liquid crystal having a salt dispersed therein disposed atop the redox-active material.

Abstract: New aromatic diamine derivatives and the preparation thereof are disclosed. The diamine derivatives of the present invention can be added to conventional polymerization reactions of tetracarboxylic acids or dianhydrides thereof and diamines to form new polyamic acids. After high-temperature baking, the polyamic acids are cyclized to form polyimides. These polyimides can be used as alignment film materials for liquid crystal display cell and have good alignment property and stability, and are effective in promoting pre-tilt angles.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a layer of a liquid crystal material contained between two spaced-apart cell walls (2, 4) provided with electrode structures (12, 14) for applying an electric field across at least some of the liquid crystal material. At least one of the cell walls (2) is provided with an alignment structure (10) for inducing a desired local orientation of molecules of the liquid crystal material adjacent thereto. The liquid crystal material includes non-polymerisable low molecular weight surfactant molecules. The invention also provides a liquid crystal composition for use in the device and a method of manufacturing the device.

Abstract: An aromatic polyamide photoalignment material prepared by a reaction from a diamine compound with a side branch and a photosensitive dicarboxylic acid. Furthermore, liquid crystal display devices using such photoalignment materials in an alignment film on at least one substrate.

Abstract: Shape-persistent organic materials, including polymers, with large degrees of interior free volume are described, along with behaviors and phenomena enabled by their unique properties. One class of such a material is built up from triptycene base moieties wherein three benzene rings are bridged together about a [2.2.2] tricyclic ring system. These units can be assembled into discreet molecules and polymers. These materials and/or formulations thereof with liquid crystals or polymers are useful for the complexation of chemicals and/or polymers; they have very low dielectric constants for use as coatings in dielectric circuits, they provide additional ordering mechanisms in liquid crystals, and they display unusual mechanical responses when subjected to electrochemical, chemical, or mechanical stimuli.

Abstract: Polyamideimide photoalignment materials having a photosensitive diamine derivative compound with side branches, and liquid crystal display devices using such a photoalignment material, beneficially as an alignment film. A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate with such a photoalignment material.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises first and second substrates; a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer includes (spacer S is oxygen, m=10˜10,000), the functional group R includes photo-sensitive constituents and/or non-photo-sensitive constituents, the photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of cinnamoyl derivatives, the non-photo-sensitive constituent includes a material selected from the group consisting of CnH2n, CnH2n+1, CnH2nOH, COCnH2n+1, COCnH2n, CnH2n+1−xFx, CnH2n−(x−1)F(x−1), CnH2n−xFxOH, COCnH2n+1−xFx, (n=1˜10, x=1˜2n+1), and a combination thereof; and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.