The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising one or more compounds of the formula IA and, one or more compounds of formula BS

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wherein the occurring groups have the meanings indicated in claim 1, and to the use thereof in an active-matrix display, in particular in a VA, IPS, U-IPS, FFS, UB-FFS, SA-VA, SA-FFS, PS-VA, PS-OCB, PS-IPS, PS-FFS, PS-UB-FFS, PS-posi-VA, PS-TN, polymer stabilised SA-VA or polymer stabilised SA-FFS display.

Liquid-crystalline media (LC media) comprising self-aligning mesogens (self-alignment additives) which effect homeotropic (vertical) alignment of the LC media at a surface or the cell walls of a liquid-crystal display (LC display). The self-alignment additives contain five-ring systems. LC displays having homeotropic alignment of the liquid-crystalline medium (LC medium) without conventional alignment layers are provided.

A liquid crystal aligning agent composition for preparing a liquid crystal alignment film having enhanced stability and exhibiting excellent electrical characteristics, a method for preparing a liquid crystal alignment film using the same, and a liquid crystal alignment film and a liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal alignment film.

A polymer stabilized vertical alignment liquid crystal display (PS-VA LCD) panel and a method of manufacturing same. The PS-VA LCD panel includes a first substrate; a second substrate; a crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of vesicles disposed around the crystal layer, wherein the vesicles includes a plurality of free radical inhibitors; and a sealant using for encapsulating the liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.

A liquid crystal alignment material and a display panel containing the same are provided. The liquid crystal alignment material includes an additive and pillar[n]arene. The additive includes a first group, a second group, and a third group. The second group is attached between the first group and the third group. The third group has a polarity. The pillar[n]arene includes n benzene rings and n is a positive integer. The benzene rings are bonded to each other and define a cavity. The pillar[n]arene is attached to the first group of the additive. The display panel includes the liquid crystal alignment material and a liquid crystal molecule.

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium which comprises at least one compound of the formula I,

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in which
R.sup.1, R.sup.1*, rings A and B, Z.sup.1, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, a and b have the meanings indicated in Claim 1,
and to the use thereof for an active-matrix display, in particular based on the VA, PSA, PS-VA, PALC, FFS, PS-FFS, IPS or PS-IPS effect.

Provided are a polymerizable compound represented by formula I and a liquid crystal composition formed by combining such a polymerizable compound with a specific liquid crystal component, particularly a PSVA liquid crystal composition for displays or TV applications and a PSA-IPS liquid crystal composition for an IPS mode; in particular, the polymerizable compound has a faster polymerization rate, and a “material system” formed from the selected polymerizable component and liquid crystal component has a low rotary viscosity and good photoelectric properties, and has a high VHR after (UV) photoradiation, this avoiding the problem of the occurrence of residual images to final displays. ##STR00001##

Provided are a polymerizable compound represented by formula I and a liquid crystal composition comprising the polymerizable compound, particularly a PSVA liquid crystal composition for displays or TV applications and a PSA-IPS liquid crystal composition for an IPS mode; in particular, the polymerizable compound has a faster polymerization rate, and a “material system” formed from the selected polymerizable component and liquid crystal component has a lower rotary viscosity and better photoelectric properties, and has a high VHR after (UV) photoradiation, this avoiding the problem of the occurrence of residual images to final displays. ##STR00001##

It is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which an anchoring force causing liquid crystal molecules to be vertically aligned can be exerted sufficiently. A liquid crystal display device (1) including two substrates AM and CF and a liquid crystal layer (4) sandwiched therebetween can be manufactured. The liquid crystal display device manufacturing method includes: a first step of subjecting a surface of one of the substrates AM and CM that is to be in contact with the liquid crystal layer (4) to hydrophilization treatment; and a second step of disposing the two substrates AM and CF so as to face each other such that the two substrates are in contact with a liquid crystal composition containing liquid crystal molecules and an alignment aid having a polar group and having the function of causing the liquid crystal molecules to be aligned spontaneously.

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more mesogenic compounds, one or more chiral compounds, and one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds, wherein the media exhibit a pitch of 0.55 μm or more and a clearing point of 80° C. or more and wherein the one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds are contained in an amount, based on the overall contents of the media, of 5% by weight or less. The present invention further relates to modulation materials obtainable from the media and to switching layers and window elements containing the materials.