An atmospheric water generator for extracting water droplets from ambient air includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of electrode film units, and a liquid crystal/polymer composite film. Each of surface regions of the liquid crystal/polymer composite film has a plurality of liquid crystal molecules each having a hydrophilic functional group and a hydrophobic moiety. Each of the surface regions normally has one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. When a voltage is applied to one of the electrode film units, the respective surface region is switched to have the other one of hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties, to thereby allow the water droplets condensed from the ambient air to move on the surface regions.

As a material used in an element used for phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal having a frequency of 1 GHz to 10 THz, a liquid crystal composition is required, which has a high upper limit temperature of a nematic phase, a low lower limit temperature of a nematic phase, large dielectric anisotropy and a small tan δ in a frequency region where the phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal is performed, and stability against heat, and which has an excellent balance of the characteristics. A liquid crystal composition which is used in an element for phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal having any frequency from 1 GHz to 10 THz, the liquid crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (1) as a first component.

##STR00001##

As a material used in an element used for phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal having a frequency of 1 GHz to 10 THz, a liquid crystal composition is required, which has a high upper limit temperature of a nematic phase, a low lower limit temperature of a nematic phase, large dielectric anisotropy and a small tan δ in a frequency region where the phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal is performed, and stability against heat, and which has an excellent balance of the characteristics. A liquid crystal composition which is used in an element for phase control of an electromagnetic wave signal having any frequency from 1 GHz to 10 THz, the liquid crystal composition containing at least one compound selected from compounds represented by Formula (1) as a first component.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a polymerizable mixture which can be used to form a dielectric material for the preparation of passivation layers in electronic devices. The polymerizable mixture comprises a first monomer and a second monomer which may react to form a copolymer providing excellent film forming capability, excellent thermal properties and excellent mechanical properties. There is further provided a method for forming said copolymers and an electronic device containing said copolymers as dielectric material. Beyond that, the present invention relates to a manufacturing method for preparing a packaged microelectronic structure and to a microelectronic device comprising said packaged microelectronic structure formed by said manufacturing method.

Provided is a liquid crystal composition capable of forming an optically anisotropic layer, and method thereof, in which a variation in a twisted angle of liquid crystal compound in an in-plane direction is suppressed an optical film, and a circularly polarizing plate for an organic EL display. The liquid crystal composition contains a liquid crystal, optically active compound A which is a photosensitive optically active compound whose helical twisting power changes upon irradiation with light and has a molar absorption coefficient of 5,000 M.sup.−1.Math.cm.sup.−1 or more with respect to light having a wavelength of 365 nm, and an optically active compound B having a molar absorption coefficient with respect to light having a wavelength of 365 nm smaller than the molar absorption coefficient of the optically active compound A, in which a mass content ratio of the optically active compound A to the liquid crystal compound is less than 0.01.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film excellent in plane shape uniformity with a high alignment degree can be formed, a method of producing same, a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a high-molecular weight liquid crystal compound, and a dichroic substance, where the composition is a copolymer containing 90% by mass or more of a repeating unit (1) of Formula (1) and 10% by mass or less of a repeating unit (2) of Formula (2). In Formulae (1) and (2), P1 to P3 represent main chains, L1 to L3 represent a single bond or divalent linking group, P2 to SP3 represent a single bond or spacer group (SP1), M1 to M3 represent mesogenic groups, T1 represents a terminal group, and n and m are integers of 0 or 1.

##STR00001##

Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

A compound of the formula, plus devices incorporating this compound, and a method of marking such devices: ##STR00001## wherein: A represents a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, a biphenyl group or two phenyl groups linked by a C.sub.1-C.sub.8 alkyl chain; B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 in each occurrence are independently selected side chains of the structure
—(Y.sup.1).sub.n-L-(Y.sup.2).sub.m—X wherein: Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 in each occurrence are independently selected from O, CO.sub.2— and CH.sub.2O, m and n in each occurrence are independently selected from 0 or 1; L in each occurrence is a C.sub.2-C.sub.14 straight chain alkyl group; and X in each occurrence is an independently selected cross linkable group; C is a side chain of the structure —(Z.sup.1).sub.p-M-(Z.sup.2).sub.q-E wherein: Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently selected from O, CO.sub.2— and CH.sub.2O, p and q in each occurrence are independently selected from 0 or 1; M is a C.sub.1-C.sub.14 straight chain alkyl group; and E comprises a charge transport group; D is a side chain of the structure —(W.sup.1).sub.r—N—(W.sup.2).sub.s—F wherein: W.sup.1 and W.sup.2 are independently selected from O, CO.sub.2— and CH.sub.2O, r and s in each occurrence are independently selected from 0 or 1; N is a C.sub.1-C.sub.14 straight chain alkyl group; and F comprises a charge transport group or light emitter group; and wherein the charge transport group E does not contain a fluorene group other than those that form part of a spirobifluorenearylamine motif.

The invention relates to a light modulation element comprising a pair of substrates, one or more optical films located on the inner side of one of the substrates, an electrode structure capable of inducing an electric field substantially in parallel to the substrates main plane, and a homogenously aligned liquid crystalline medium which is obtainable from a photoalignment component A) and a liquid-crystalline component B). Furthermore, the invention relates process of production of the light modulation element, to the use of the light modulation element in an electro optical device and to an electro optical device comprising said light modulation element.