Three-dimensional structures of stably associated mesogenic ligand-functionalized nanoparticles are provided. Compositions that include these structures, as well as methods of making the structures are also provided. The structures, compositions and methods find use in a variety of applications, such as light emitting devices (e.g., video displays, lights, etc.), inks, photonics and encapsulation technologies.

Shown is a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one or having suitable balance regarding at least two of characteristics such as high maximum or low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, large optical anisotropy, large positive dielectric anisotropy and high stability to ultraviolet light, a liquid crystal display device including such a composition, particularly including an encapsulated composition, and a liquid crystal display device including the composition serving as a constituent of 3D lens. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having large optical anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having large optical anisotropy and positive dielectric anisotropy as a second component; a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a third component; and a specific compound having large optical anisotropy and further having high maximum or low minimum temperature as a fourth component, and the liquid crystal display device includes the composition.

There is provided a liquid crystal composition including at least one compound represented by General Formula (i) and at least one compound represented by General Formula (N). The total amount of the compound represented by General Formula (i) is 10% by mass or greater. In the liquid crystal composition and the liquid crystal display element using the composition, the liquid crystal composition has a positive Δ∈ and a flat transmission characteristic curve. Therefore, gradation characteristics are easily controlled. Furthermore, display defects due to burn-in, dropping marks, and the like can be suppressed, and therefore excellent display quality is exhibited. The liquid crystal display element using this liquid crystal composition can be also provided.

There is provided a liquid crystal composition including at least one compound represented by General Formula (i) and at least one compound represented by General Formula (N). The total amount of the compound represented by General Formula (i) is 10% by mass or greater. In the liquid crystal composition and the liquid crystal display element using the composition, the liquid crystal composition has a positive Δ∈ and a flat transmission characteristic curve. Therefore, gradation characteristics are easily controlled. Furthermore, display defects due to burn-in, dropping marks, and the like can be suppressed, and therefore excellent display quality is exhibited. The liquid crystal display element using this liquid crystal composition can be also provided.

The present invention provides a polymerizable liquid crystal composition including a specific polymerizable compound and a fluorosurfactant having specific polyoxyalkylene skeleton and molecular weight. Also, an optically anisotropic body, a phase difference film, an antireflection film, and a liquid crystal display device, which are produced by using the polymerizable liquid crystal composition according to the present invention, are provided. The present invention is useful because three properties, that is, leveling properties of the surface of an optically anisotropic body, offset to a base material, and alignment properties of a liquid crystal can be improved at the same time in the case where the optically anisotropic body is produced by photopolymerizing the polymerizable liquid crystal composition.

Mesogenic compounds having a structure of Formula (I), (II) or (III): where A, B, X1, L, TG, m, and n are defined as in claim 1. Compositions containing these compounds, articles made from these polymerized and prepolymerized compositions, and methods of estimating the elastic constants and anchoring constants of a liquid crystal materials and mapping topological defect structures in liquid crystals using these compounds. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (I) and an oxime compound,

##STR00001## in the formula, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each represent a phenylene group or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each represent single bond, —C(═O)O—, or —OC(═O)—, Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 each represent a polymerizable group or the like, m and n represent an integer of 0 to 2, X may represent —X.sup.3-Sp.sup.3-Q.sup.3 or two X's may be bonded to each other to form a fused ring, X.sup.3 represents —C(═O)O—, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2, and Sp.sup.3 each represent single bond, an alkylene group, or the like, Q.sup.3 represents hydrogen atom, a cycloalkyl group, a polymerizable group, or the like, and l represents an integer of 0 to 4. The polymerizable composition hardly causes yellowing after curing and is useful for manufacturing a film and a half mirror for displaying a projection image.

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition containing a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (I) and an oxime compound,

##STR00001## in the formula, A.sup.1 and A.sup.2 each represent a phenylene group or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group, L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 each represent single bond, —C(═O)O—, or —OC(═O)—, Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 each represent a polymerizable group or the like, m and n represent an integer of 0 to 2, X may represent —X.sup.3-Sp.sup.3-Q.sup.3 or two X's may be bonded to each other to form a fused ring, X.sup.3 represents —C(═O)O—, Sp.sup.1, Sp.sup.2, and Sp.sup.3 each represent single bond, an alkylene group, or the like, Q.sup.3 represents hydrogen atom, a cycloalkyl group, a polymerizable group, or the like, and l represents an integer of 0 to 4. The polymerizable composition hardly causes yellowing after curing and is useful for manufacturing a film and a half mirror for displaying a projection image.

Disclosed is a novel stabilizer represented by formula I,

##STR00001##

Further disclosed is a liquid crystal composition comprising a compound of formula I. The liquid crystal composition disclosed in the present invention has a low viscosity γ.sub.1, a moderate dielectric anisotropy Δ∈, a moderate optical anisotropy Δn, and most principally a high reliability, and can achieve a quick response of liquid crystal display.

Provided is a liquid crystal composition capable of suppressing a decrease in phase transition temperature from a smectic phase to a nematic phase and suppressing alignment defects in a liquid crystal cured layer thus formed, a liquid crystal cured layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition includes a liquid crystal compound exhibiting a smectic phase and a freezing point depressant, in which the liquid crystal compound is a compound represented by Formula (I) SP1-MG-SP2, and the liquid crystal composition satisfies Expression (1) |Am−Asl≥0.2 and Expression (2-1) in a case of Am≤As, Aa≥(Am+As)/2 or Expression (2-2) in a case of Am>As, Aa≤(Am+As)/2.