Abstract: Nanocomposite compositions and methods of synthesis of the compositions are described. In particular, liquid crystal-functionalized nanoparticles, liquid crystal-templated nanoparticles, nanocomposite compositions including the nanoparticles, and composite compositions including the nanocomposites are detailed.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is manufactured by placing a liquid crystal composition in the gap between two parallel substrates followed by polymerization to form a liquid crystal layer, wherein the liquid crystal composition comprises a free radical scavenger, no voltage is applied between the electrodes at an initial polymerization period, ultraviolet rays are irradiated at an intensity of 1 mW/cm2 or less at an initial polymerization period, the liquid crystal composition is subjected, prior to the polymerization, to heat treatment at a temperature equal to or above the phase transition temperature of the used liquid crystal, or the liquid crystal composition is supplied dropwise onto a substrate and the substrates are bonded together in vacuum to place the liquid crystal composition into the gap between the substrates. A liquid crystal display device with no or little occurrence of display irregularities is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal bulk layer and a dynamic surface-director alignment layer, wherein the liquid crystal bulk layer comprises a liquid crystalline material possessing a phase sequence consisting of isotropic phase, nematic phase and optionally crystalline phase(s), and the surface-director alignment layer comprises a chiral smectic liquid crystalline polysiloxane. The invention also relates to a method for its manufacturing.

Abstract: A method of forming an image having multiple phases is disclosed herein. The method includes forming exposed and unexposed areas, the exposed areas comprising a first polymer network exhibiting first and second phases that are chemically connected and have different refractive indices, the first phase being continuous, and the second phase comprising a plurality of structures dispersed within the first phase, and the unexposed areas comprising a second polymer network comprising third and fourth phases that are chemically connected and have different refractive indices, the third phase being continuous, and the fourth phase comprising a plurality of structures dispersed within the third phase. The first and second polymer networks are chemically connected, and morphology formed by the first and second phases is different than that formed by the third and fourth phases.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (1), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds having a group represented by formula (2) as a partial structure: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, fluorine, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons; R4 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons; R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons; ring A and ring B are each independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, 3-fluoro-1,4-phenylene or 3,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a single bond or ethylene; and n and m are each independently 0, 1 or 2, provided that the sum of n and m is 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition including at least two kinds of gelling agents and a liquid crystal. The liquid crystal shows a liquid crystal phase at room temperature. A liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition also is provided.

Abstract: An optically-compensatory sheet comprises an optically anisotropic layer that comprises a liquid crystal compound, wherein the liquid crystal compound in the optically anisotropic layer has Smax of 0.4 or more, in which Smax is a maximum value among S1, S2 and S3, S1 is an alignment order parameter in a vicinity of an interface between the optically anisotropic layer and air; S2 is an alignment order parameter in a vicinity of an interface on a side opposite to the interface between the optically anisotropic layer and air; and S3 is an alignment order parameter in an interior of the optically anisotropic layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a composition comprising a cellulose ester and a high boiling plasticizer having a boiling point greater than 370° C., wherein the composition has a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than a similar composition having triphenyl phosphate (TPP) plasticizer substituted for the high boiling plasticizer. The invention also related to articles and films made therefrom. This invention also relates to methods of making the compositions, articles and films.

Abstract: The invention features dilute solutions of rigid rod or extended rod lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers prepared from high concentration polymerization mixtures. The invention also features methods of preparing such dilute solutions which utilize high mechanical shear to induce mix the high concentration solution with a diluent. The invention further provides articles of manufacture, including films and fibers, having a porous microstructure which are prepared from the dilute homogeneous solutions of the invention.

Abstract: Such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is to be provided that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has a uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains an acrylate compound, an epoxy compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (1-1) and (1-2) as a component (A), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formula (2) as a component (B), a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (3-1) to (3-3) as a component (C) and a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (4-1A), (4-1B), (4-2), (4-3), (4-4) and (4-5) as a component (D), and may optionally contain a compound selected from a group of compounds represented by formulae (5-1) and (5-2) as a component (E).

Abstract: Insoluble polyphosphonates produced via a transesterification process, methods for preparing such insoluble polyphosphonates and polymer compositions and articles of manufacture including such insoluble polyphosphonates are described herein.

Abstract: A display medium which has a memorizing ability and is superior in the stability under a severe condition or to folding is provided by a displaying medium comprising a substrate and a constituting layer provided on the substrate, in which the constituting layer contains a binder and a liquid crystal composition dispersed in the binder, and the binder contains a hydrophilic polymer hardened by a hardening treatment.

Abstract: The invention is to provide such a polymerizable liquid crystal composition that is excellent in stability in a solution state, shows good coating property on a supporting substrate, and has uniform homeotropic alignment property. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition of the invention contains an acrylate compound and a bisphenol fluorene compound. The bisphenol fluorene compound is effective for controlling uniform homeotropic alignment of the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal layer comprising a cholesteric liquid crystal and a self-organizing type gelling agent, and a manufacturing method thereof, comprising: spreading a cholesteric liquid crystal containing a gelling agent in a heated state over at least one of substrates to form a liquid crystal layer, or a manufacturing method thereof, comprising: spreading a cholesteric liquid crystal that contains a gelling agent and exhibits flowability at room temperature over at least one of substrates to form a liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A composition comprises a first polymeric material having a melt viscosity of 0.15 kNsm?2 or less and liquid crystal polymer. The first polymeric material is preferably a polyaryletherketone. A composite material which comprises high levels of fillers in combination with the aforementioned composition is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a phototunable chiral dopant represented by the following structure: wherein: A, B, C and D are independent divalent groups; X and Z are any independently selected substituent; n is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 3; q is an integer and independently varies from 0 to 5; RNG1 and RNG2 independently represent any ring group; m represents an integer independently varying from 0 to 4; p represents an integer independently varying from 1 to 4; Q independently represents a carbon C—RC, or nitrogen, wherein RC is independently hydrogen or any substituent. The invention also relates to the use of the dopant in a liquid crystalline composition and a display containing the same, as well as a material composition comprising an enantiomeric excess of one enantiomer of the compound.

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 present invention provides a photopolymerizable liquid crystal composition comprising at least a compound having oxiranyl as a first component and at least a compound having oxetanyl as a second component, a polymer or a polymer composition obtained from the liquid crystal composition, a film obtained from the polymer or polymer composition, and an optical compensation element using the film.

Abstract: The present invention provides organogermanium compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising such a compound.

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: 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: A polymerizable liquid crystalline composition comprises a side chain liquid crystalline polymer obtained by radical-copolymerizing a (meth)acrylic compound has an optically active site and a (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetanyl group, and a cation generator and thus have no functional group the synthesis of which is difficult, such as an epoxy group. The use of the polymerizable liquid crystalline composition provides a cholesteric liquid crystal film which is excellent in a capability of retaining the orientation after being aligned and fixed in a liquid crystal orientation and in mechanical strength without the necessity of a complicated operation such as photo irradiation under an inert gas atmosphere.

Abstract: The process described herein offers the optimizing of performance parameters of holograms, such as reducing scattering effects in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. In the process, an interfacial tension agent is added to a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material has a first material selected from the group consisting of a reactive ionic material, an aromatic material, a polypyrrole, and an acrylated or methacrylated acid of the type H2CCH—(CO)O—R—(CO)OH, where R is a linear or branched alkyl chain. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material also has at least one type of liquid crystal material, a photoinitiator dye, and a co-initiator. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material is subjected to a polymerization. The interfacial tension agent reduces the size of liquid crystal droplets formed within the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element during polymerization.

Abstract: A chiral nematic liquid crystal composition, characterized in that a self-organizing type gelling agent is contained and the phase transition temperature between liquid crystal and isotropic phases is higher than the sol-gel transition temperature, a liquid crystal display device wherein the chiral nematic liquid crystal composition is put and held between a pair of substrates having an electrode, and a method for producing a liquid crystal display device wherein the chiral nematic liquid crystal composition is heated to a temperature of not lower than the phase transition temperature between liquid crystal and isotropic phases and then cooled down to room temperature.

Abstract: A photosensitive monomer of formula. “L1”, “L2”, “L3”, “L4”, “L5”, “L6” are selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, cyano, alkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, and alkylcarbonyloxy having 1 to 7 carbon atoms, in which one or more hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine or chlorine. “R1”, “R2”, “R3” and “R4” are selected from hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, cyano, thiocyanato, pentafluoro sulfanyl, nitrite, straight-chained alkyl/branched alkyl, and a “Z-Sp-P” group. At least one of “R1”, “R2”, “R3” and “R4” is “Z-Sp-P” group. “Z” is selected from oxygen, sulfur, methyoxy, carbonyl, caroboxyl, carbamoyl, methylthio, ethenylcarbonyl, carbonylethenyl, and a single bond. “Sp” is selected from straight-chained alkyl or branched alkyl and a single bond. “P” comprises a polymerizable group.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy and containing at least one compound represented by formula (1), at least one compound represented by formula (2), at least one compound represented by formula (4), at least one compound represented by formula (5), and at least one compound represented by formula (6), and the composition essentially consisting of these components: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 is, for example, alkyl; A1, A2 and A3 is, for example, 1,4-phenylene; Z1 is a single bond, —CH2O— or —COO—; and Z2 is a single bond or —COO—.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material that can effectively develop electron conductive properties which a liquid crystal system inherently has. The liquid crystalline organic semiconductor material has both an isotropic phase and a smectic liquid crystal phase and comprises an electronically conductive liquid crystal material, wherein the concentration of an impurity in the liquid crystal material is controlled to a lower value than the critical concentration at which the electron conductivity of the liquid crystal material disappears or is significantly reduced rendering ion conduction dominant.

Abstract: The invention provides a liquid crystal display element and a light-modulating material each containing at least one low molecular weight gelling agent, at least one dichroic dye having a substituent represented by formula (1) and at least one host liquid crystal between a pair of electrodes at least one of which is a transparent electrode. Representations in formula (1) are: Het, O or S; B1 and B2, divalent arylene, heteroarylene or alicyclic hydrocarbon group; Q1, divalent linking group; C1, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl or acyloxy group; j, 0 or 1; p, q and r, an integer 0 to 5; n, an integer 1 to 3; and (p+r)×n is an integer 3 to 10.

Abstract: A mixture which is polymerizable to polymers exhibiting a high optical anisotropy which is stable during polymerization. The mixture contains a first monomer or (and/or) oligomer having two or more polymerizable functional groups and optionally a mesogenic group; a second monomer or oligomer bearing at least one mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure and only one polymerizable group; and from 1 to 50% by weight of a monomer non-polymerizable with the first or second monomer, but which also contains a mesogenic group having an aromatic double ring structure.

Abstract: A novel liquid crystal composition and a novel liquid crystal element are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymerisable liquid crystal (LC) material, to optically biaxial films prepared thereof, to novel polymerisable compounds used therein and to the use of the material and films in optical devices like compensators and LC displays (LCDs).

Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for the determination of the enantiomeric excess of chiral compounds. The methods involve doping a chiral analyte into an achiral liquid crystal host to form a chiral dopant/host liquid crystal mixture. An electro-optic signature of the mixture is then determined and is used to calculate the enantiomeric excess of the chiral analyte. The disclosure also provides systems for performing the disclosed methods of determining enantiomeric excess.

Abstract: A novel display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a plural of liquid crystal layers disposed between a pair of electrodes respectively, wherein each of the liquid crystal layers shows an absorption peak at a different wavelength and comprises at least one dichroic dye and at least one dual-frequency switchable liquid crystal as a host liquid crystal.

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: A mold product comprising liquid crystal composition for conducting heat. The liquid crystal composition contains liquid crystal polymer having an orientation degree ? obtained by equation 1 below: Orientation degree ?=(180???)/180 equation 1 In equation 1, ?? is a half width in the intensity distribution obtained by fixing peak scattering angle in X-ray diffraction measurement and by varying the azimuth angle from 0 to 360 degrees, and orientation degree ? is in a range between 0.5 and 1.0.

Abstract: A rewritable display containing a substrate having thereon one or more constitution layers, one of the constitution layers being a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition which is dispersed in a binder, and one of the constitution layers containing a compound selected from the group constituted of: (a) alumina particles; (b) a layer structured inorganic compound; (c) a specific azomethine dye compound represented by Formula (D) whose structure is described in the specification; (d) a fluorescent brightening agent; and (e) a ultraviolet absorber.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline polymers containing specified ratios of repeat units derived from hydroquinone, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and optionally terephthalic acid have exceptionally high heat distortion temperatures, making especially useful for service at high temperatures. Compositions containing reinforcing agents, especially fibrous or platy reinforcing agents are particularly useful. These polymers and compositions are useful for electrical and electronic connectors, and as films for the electronics industry, and for other uses.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal composition with high response speed without lowering various characteristics of a liquid crystal, such as voltage holding rate and phase transition temperature. One feature of the invention is that a nematic liquid crystal and an inert fluid containing fluorine (CmFn or CmFnO (n and m are natural numbers)) are mixed. Another feature of the invention is that a content of a fluorine-based inert solution (CmFn or CmFnO (n and m are natural numbers)) is 10 wt % or more to 60 wt % or less with respect to the nematic liquid crystal.

Abstract: Conducting liquid crystal polymer matrix comprising carbon nanotubes aligned in the matrix is provided, along with use thereof and method of fabrication.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition comprising a dichroic dye, a host liquid crystal and at least one kind of solid matter having an average particle diameter of 1 nm to 10 m, the dichroic dye having a substituent represented by the following formula (1): -(Het)j-{(B1)p-(Q1)q-(B2)r}n—C1:??Formula (1) wherein Het is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; B1 and B2 each independently represent an arylene group, a heteroarylene group, or a divalent cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group; Q1 represents a divalent linking group; C1 represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an acyl group, or an acyloxy group; j represents 0 or 1; p, q, and r represent an integer of 0 to 5, respectively; n represents an integer of 1 to 3; the sum of the groups represented by B1 and B2 is an integer of 3 to 10; when p, q and r are respectively 2 or greater, two or more of B1, Q1 or B2 may be the same or different; when n is 2 or greater, two or more of {(B1)p-(Q1)q-(B2)r} may be the same or different.

Abstract: A resin film has a photoelastic coefficient of from 0 to 30×10?8 cm2/N; and Re satisfying the following formulae (1) to (4): 20 nm<Re(548)<300 nm : ??Formula (1) 0.5<Re(446)/Re(548)<1 : ??Formula (2) 1.0<Re(629)/Re(548)<2.0 : ??Formula (3) 0.1%?[{Re(548) at 25° C., 10% RH?Re(548) at 25° C., 80% RH}/Re(548) at 25° C., 60% RH]?20%, : ??Formula (4) wherein Re(?) represents an in-plane retardation at a wavelength of ?.

Abstract: Liquid crystal compositions that exhibit little or no toxicity with respect to cells include liquid crystals with chemical functional groups such as fluorine atoms, fluorophenyl groups, or difluorophenyl groups. Liquid crystals with little or no toxicity to cell lines may be added to cell culture media or added to components used in cell culture media. Cells may be grown in cell culture media that includes liquid crystals that exhibit little or no toxicity to cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to liquid crystal flakes, to methods of their preparation and to their use as pigments for security or decorative applications or optical elements.

Abstract: A device composed of: (a) a first liquid crystal composition including a first liquid crystal and a first liquid crystal domain stabilizing compound, wherein the first liquid crystal composition switches between a strongly scattering state of a first plurality of smaller liquid crystal domains that strongly scatters a predetermined light and a weakly scattering state of a second plurality of larger liquid crystal domains that weakly scatters the predetermined light; and (b) a second liquid crystal composition including a second liquid crystal and a second liquid crystal domain stabilizing compound, wherein the second liquid crystal composition switches between a strongly scattering state of a first plurality of smaller liquid crystal domains that strongly scatters the predetermined light and a weakly scattering state of a second plurality of larger liquid crystal domains that weakly scatters the predetermined light, wherein the second liquid crystal composition and the first liquid crystal composition are in

Abstract: A precursor for the preparation of a material with optical properties modifiable under the action of at least one external parameter, comprising a component A constituted by polymerizable monomers or oligomers, a component B comprising one or several liquid crystals with low molecular weights or polymers and having a type of molecular order that is nematic, cholesteric or smectic or having polymorphism, and at least one surface agent C whose molecules have an affinity both for component A and for component B, and comprising simultaneously one or several chemical groups that can attach chemically to the constituents of component A, and one or several chemical groups comprising a mesogenic portion compatible with the mesomorphic phase of component B, so as to control the interfacial properties between components A, and B during polymerization.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for producing a heat-insulating coating comprising at least one radiation-absorbing compound and at least one IR-reflector component, to a heat-insulating coating comprising this oriented, cured composition, and to a process for producing said coating.

Abstract: A biaxial liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a refractive index-controlling agent, which is capable of developing a biaxial liquid crystal phase, and has a value of (nx?ny)/(ny?nz) and a value of (nx0?ny0)/(ny0?nz0) different from each other wherein nx, ny and nz respectively represent refractive indexes along directions of three axes of the biaxial liquid crystal composition in an order of magnitude, and nx0, ny0 and nz0 respectively represent refractive indexes along directions of three axes of the biaxial composition obtained by excluding the refractive index-controlling agent from the biaxial liquid crystal composition in an order of magnitude.

Abstract: A cholesteric display is provided including a bistable liquid crystalline mixture contained between a first substrate and a second substrate of a liquid crystal cell, and a polymer network orthogonally oriented with respect to the substrates, thereby defining liquid crystal domains, with a dipolar dopant dissolved in the liquid crystalline mixture. A process for producing a cholesteric display is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned liquid crystal layer wherein the liquid crystal layer contains a Lewis acid. Such a film is useful for aligning a liquid crystal material to an increased tilt angle.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition including: (a) a liquid crystal; and (b) a polymerized liquid crystal domain stabilizing compound comprising a dipolar monomer and a non-dipolar monomer.