The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition including at least one compound represented by General Formula (1), at least one compound represented by General Formula (2), and at least one compound represented by General Formula (LC1).

##STR00001##

The liquid crystal composition of the present invention has high refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and sufficiently low viscosity (η), achieves a wide nematic phase temperature range by suppressing a decrease in nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (T.sub.ni), and exhibits high compatibility. By using the liquid crystal composition of the present invention in a liquid crystal display element, a liquid crystal display element having a high response speed and high practical reliability can be obtained.

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 a.sub.1 of atoms of the polymerizable LCC and the number a.sub.2 of atoms of the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (1): 0.2<a.sub.2/a.sub.1<0.55; the number b.sub.1 of the rings B.sup.1 contained in the polymerizable LCC and the total number b.sub.2 of the aromatic rings Ar and the rings B.sup.2 contained in the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (2): b.sub.2=b.sub.1×0.5 or b.sub.2=(b.sub.1+1)×0.5.

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 a.sub.1 of atoms of the polymerizable LCC and the number a.sub.2 of atoms of the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (1): 0.2<a.sub.2/a.sub.1<0.55; the number b.sub.1 of the rings B.sup.1 contained in the polymerizable LCC and the total number b.sub.2 of the aromatic rings Ar and the rings B.sup.2 contained in the monofunctional compound satisfy a relationship of Expression (2): b.sub.2=b.sub.1×0.5 or b.sub.2=(b.sub.1+1)×0.5.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition for forming a polymer layer capable of keeping high voltage holding ratio. The liquid crystal composition in an aspect of the present invention contains a liquid crystal material and one or more kind monomers and, at least one of the monomers is a compound produced by further bonding a hydrocarbon group with 12 carbon atoms or more to a compound produced by bonding two polymerizable groups to a cyclic aliphatic compound or aromatic compound with 6 carbon atoms or more.

The liquid crystal light modulator includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20) disposed between two polarizers, and a pair of electrode structures (24, 24). The substrates include homeotropic alignment films (12) and (22), and at least one of the substrates has a function of aligning C-directors of liquid crystal molecules along one direction. The one direction forms an azimuth angle in the range of 35 to 55 degrees with the direction of the electric field generated by the pair of electrode structures (24, 24). A liquid crystal composition layer (31) contains a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition having a chiral smectic C phase or a liquid crystal composition that has an achiral smectic C phase and negative dielectric anisotropy. Light transmittance is modulated by the electric field generated by the electrode structures (24, 24) changing the birefringence index of the liquid crystal composition layer (31).

Liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula G ##STR00001##
and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I, II and III, ##STR00002##
in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in claim 1, and components comprising these media, are suitable for use in high-frequency technology, in particular, in phase shifters and microwave array antennas.

Liquid-crystalline media comprising one or more compounds of formula G ##STR00001##
and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae I, II and III, ##STR00002##
in which the parameters have the meaning indicated in claim 1, and components comprising these media, are suitable for use in high-frequency technology, in particular, in phase shifters and microwave array antennas.

A liquid crystal cell in which antenna units are arranged includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The TFT substrate includes a first dielectric substrate, TFTs supported by the first dielectric substrate and patch electrodes electrically connected to the TFTs, and a first alignment film covering a groove part between the adjacent patch electrodes. The slot substrate includes a second dielectric substrate, a slot electrode including slots and supported by the second dielectric substrate, and a second alignment film covering the slot electrode. The liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having a lower limit temperature of a nematic phase of the liquid crystal material of −32° C. or lower and an upper limit temperature of the nematic phase of the liquid crystal material of 110° C. or higher.

A liquid crystal cell in which antenna units are arranged includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The TFT substrate includes a first dielectric substrate, TFTs supported by the first dielectric substrate and patch electrodes electrically connected to the TFTs, and a first alignment film covering a groove part between the adjacent patch electrodes. The slot substrate includes a second dielectric substrate, a slot electrode including slots and supported by the second dielectric substrate, and a second alignment film covering the slot electrode. The liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal material having a lower limit temperature of a nematic phase of the liquid crystal material of −32° C. or lower and an upper limit temperature of the nematic phase of the liquid crystal material of 110° C. or higher.

The invention relates to compounds of the formula I,

##STR00001##

in which
R, A, n, L.sup.1, L.sup.2, L.sup.3 and X have the meanings given in Claim 1, to a process for their preparation, and to liquid-crystalline media comprising at least one compound of the formula I and electro-optical displays containing a liquid-crystalline medium of this type.