An optically anisotropic layer is formed by a liquid crystal compound represented by General Formula 1, in which the long axes of the molecules are oriented. ##STR00001##
wherein L.sub.1 and L.sub.2 independently represent a linking group having a carbonyl group; F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a halogen atom; n and m independently represent an integer from 0 to 4; a and b independently represent an integer from 1 to 4; T.sub.1 and T.sub.2 independently represent a spacer portion including a straight chain or branched alkylene or alkylene oxide group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms; and Ar represents a divalent group having at least one aromatic ring selected from a group consisting of aromatic hydrocarbon rings and aromatic heterocycles, the number of electrons in the Ar group being 8 or greater.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can exhibit a long-lasting favorable voltage holding ratio and prevent deterioration of reliability. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: paired substrates disposed to face each other; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the substrates; and an alignment film disposed between at least one of the substrates and the liquid crystal layer, the at least one of the substrates including an electrode and/or a conductive line that contain(s) copper or aluminum, the liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal component and an additive component with a chemical structure including a benzotriazole group represented by a given chemical formula.

A polymerisable LC material comprising one or more di- or multireactive mesogenic compounds and one or more compounds of formula UVI, ##STR00001##
and one or more compounds of formula UVII, ##STR00002## Further, a method for its preparation, a polymer film with improved thermal durability and UV stability obtainable from a corresponding polymerisable LC material, a method of preparation of such polymer film, and the use of such polymer film and said polymerisable LC material for optical, electro-optical, decorative or security devices.

The present invention relates to: a polymerizable compound (I), wherein Y.sup.1 to Y.sup.6 are a chemical single bond, OC(O), C(O)O or the like, G.sup.1 and G.sup.2 are a divalent aliphatic group, Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are an alkenyl group, A.sup.x is a fused ring group represented by a formula (II), wherein X is NR.sup.3, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like, R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and D is a substituted or unsubstituted ring having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that includes at least one nitrogen atom, A.sup.y is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, A.sup.1 is a trivalent aromatic group or the like, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are a divalent aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or the like, and Q.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. ##STR00001##

It is an object of the present invention to provide a polymerizable compound suitable as a material for optically anisotropic bodies having excellent optical properties, a composition containing the polymerizable compound, a polymer obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable compound, an optically anisotropic body formed of the polymer, and a liquid crystal display device including the optically anisotropic body.

The invention relates to bimesogenic compounds of formula I ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.11, R.sup.12, MG.sup.11, MG.sup.12, X.sup.11, X.sup.12 and Sp.sup.1 have the meaning given in claim 1, to the use of bimesogenic compounds of formula I in liquid crystal media and particular to flexoelectric liquid crystal devices comprising a liquid crystal medium according to the present invention.

A liquid crystal composition including: a liquid crystal compound and a liquid crystal aligning agent containing at least one compound represented by Formula 1:

##STR00001## wherein in the Formula 1, X-*, *-L.sub.1-*, *-L.sub.2-*, *-L.sub.3-*, *C*, *-R-*, Y-*, n.sub.1, n.sub.2, and m is the same as defined in the specification.

The present invention relates to: a polymerizable compound (I), wherein Y.sup.1 to Y.sup.6 are a chemical single bond, OC(O), C(O)O or the like, G.sup.1 and G.sup.2 are a divalent aliphatic group, Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are an alkenyl group, A.sup.x is a fused ring group represented by a formula (II), wherein X is NR.sup.3, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or the like, R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and D is a substituted or unsubstituted ring having 1 to 20 carbon atoms that includes at least one nitrogen atom, A.sup.y is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, A.sup.1 is a trivalent aromatic group or the like, A.sup.2 and A.sup.3 are a divalent aromatic group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or the like, and Q.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

##STR00001##

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.

Provided is a fabrication method of a display device. The method includes providing an alignment solution on at least one of a first substrate and a second substrate, curing the alignment solution to form a main alignment layer, and providing a liquid crystal composition including liquid crystal molecules to form a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The alignment solution or the liquid crystal composition includes a reactive mesogen represented by the following Formula 1. ##STR00001##