An optical film includes a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals and organic solid crystal structures at least partially surrounding the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals. A method of making the optical film includes obtaining a substrate with an alignment layer and a film of a first solution on the alignment layer. The first solution includes liquid crystals and organic crystal molecules. The liquid crystals form a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals on the alignment layer. The method also includes forming organic solid crystal structures by crystallizing the organic crystal molecules. The organic solid crystal structures at least partially surround the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals.

An optical film includes a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals and organic solid crystal structures at least partially surrounding the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals. A method of making the optical film includes obtaining a substrate with an alignment layer and a film of a first solution on the alignment layer. The first solution includes liquid crystals and organic crystal molecules. The liquid crystals form a plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals on the alignment layer. The method also includes forming organic solid crystal structures by crystallizing the organic crystal molecules. The organic solid crystal structures at least partially surround the plurality of helically arranged liquid crystals.

The present invention is a polymerizable compound represented by a general formula (I), a polymerazable composition, a polymer, and an optically anisotropic product. In the formula: Q.sup.1 to Q.sup.4 represent hydrogen atoms, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or the like; X represents a divalent aromatic group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or the like; A.sup.x represents a group represented by a general formula (II); A.sup.yrepresents a group represented by a general formula (III); n represents 0 or 1; * indicates a bonding position; Y.sup.1x to Y.sup.6x and Y.sup.1y to Y.sup.8y represent a chemical single bond, O, S, OC(O), C(O)O, OC(O)O or the like; G.sup.1x, G.sup.2x, G.sup.1y and G.sup.2y represent a divalent aliphatic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or the like; Z.sup.1x, Z.sup.2x, Z.sup.1y and Z.sup.2y represent an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or the like; A.sup.1x and A.sup.1y represent a trivalent aromatic group or the like; A.sup.2x, A.sup.3x, A.sup.4y and A.sup.5Y represent a divalent aromatic group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms or the like; and A.sup.2y and A.sup.3y represent a divalent alicyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms or the like.

##STR00001##

A compound capable of providing a liquid crystal composition with high T.sub.ni, large n, low V.sub.th, large .sub.r, small tan .sub.iso, and satisfactory storability at low temperatures, and a liquid crystal composition, as well as a liquid crystal display element, a sensor, a liquid crystal lens, an optical communication device, and an antenna using the liquid crystal composition. Specifically, a compound represented by general formula (i) having an alkynyl group and an isothiocyanate group (NCS) and a liquid crystal composition containing one or two or more of such compounds.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a compound with which a liquid crystal composition having a high T.sub.ni, a large n, a low V.sub.th, a large .sub.r, and a small tan .sub.iso and having good storability at low temperatures can be provided, a liquid crystal composition, and a liquid crystal display element, a sensor, a liquid crystal lens, optical communication equipment, and an antenna made using it. Specifically, the liquid crystal composition is one that contains one or two or more types of compounds represented by general formula (i), which have an indane structure and an isothiocyanate group (NCS), and one or two or more types of compounds represented by general formula (ii), which have an isothiocyanate group (NCS).

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a compound with which a liquid crystal composition having a high T.sub.ni, a large n, a low V.sub.th, a large .sub.r, and a small tan .sub.iso and having good storability at low temperatures can be provided, a liquid crystal composition, and a liquid crystal display element, a sensor, a liquid crystal lens, optical communication equipment, and an antenna made using it. Specifically, the liquid crystal composition is one that contains one or two or more types of compounds represented by general formula (i), which have an indane structure and an isothiocyanate group (NCS), and one or two or more types of compounds represented by general formula (ii), which have an isothiocyanate group (NCS).