This invention relates to polymer particles, a process for their preparation, the use of these particles for the preparation of an electrophoretic device, electrophoretic displays comprising such particle, and new polymerisable dyes.

A composition is provided which contains a compound represented by Formula (1) below and a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound:

##STR00001##

In Formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C20 alkyl group; R.sup.2 through R.sup.4 each independently represent a C1-C4 alkyl group; n, p, and q are each independently an integer of 0 to 2; and R.sup.5 is (i) a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which is a 6-membered ring and in which N is bonded to a phenylene group, or (ii) a group in which N is bonded to at least one C1-C10 alkyl group.

A composition is provided which contains a compound represented by Formula (1) below and a polymerizable smectic liquid crystal compound:

##STR00001##

In Formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-C20 alkyl group; R.sup.2 through R.sup.4 each independently represent a C1-C4 alkyl group; n, p, and q are each independently an integer of 0 to 2; and R.sup.5 is (i) a nitrogen-containing saturated heterocyclic group which is a 6-membered ring and in which N is bonded to a phenylene group, or (ii) a group in which N is bonded to at least one C1-C10 alkyl group.

The present invention relates to an ink comprising: a solvent having a relative permittivity, measured at a frequency of 1 kHz and a temperature of 22 C., of 3 or less and a solubility in water at 25 C. of 20 mg/L or less; and a specific azo compound.

The present invention relates to an ink comprising: a solvent having a relative permittivity, measured at a frequency of 1 kHz and a temperature of 22 C., of 3 or less and a solubility in water at 25 C. of 20 mg/L or less; and a specific azo compound.

The present invention provides a novel azo compound having a quenching ability for the material that exhibits a luminescent phenomenon at an excited energy level, a quencher comprising the novel azo compound, a use of the quencher and a method for preparing the azo compound. The quencher according to the present invention may exhibit excellent characteristics in a wavelength absorption region.

The present invention provides a novel azo compound having a quenching ability for the material that exhibits a luminescent phenomenon at an excited energy level, a quencher comprising the novel azo compound, a use of the quencher and a method for preparing the azo compound. The quencher according to the present invention may exhibit excellent characteristics in a wavelength absorption region.