Provided are a liquid crystal composition containing a dibenzo derivative and a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal composition includes at least one compound of general formula I and at least one compound of general formula II. The liquid crystal compositions have the characteristics of high clearing point, large optical anisotropy, large dielectric anisotropy, large ε.sub.⊥, large ε.sub.⊥/|Δε|, and large K.sub.ave. The liquid crystal display devices containing these liquid crystal compositions have the effects of good transmittance and high contrast. The liquid crystal composition can meet the requirements of the liquid crystal display device on low power consumption and good display effect and has high application value in liquid crystal displays of in-plane switching (IPS) mode, fringe field switching (FFS) mode, and vertical alignment (VA) mode.

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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.

A liquid crystal composition containing a dibenzo derivative comprising a compound of general formula I and a compound of general formula II, and a liquid crystal display device containing the same, are disclosed. The liquid crystal composition is characterized by its excellent physical properties with respect to a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display device containing the liquid crystal composition has a good transmittance and a high contrast. ##STR00001##

Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal mixture applied in light compounds selected from the group of compounds of formula (I), component B comprised of one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formula (II), and component C comprised of one or more the liquid crystal mixture, wherein the liquid crystal mixture has higher stability of electrical performance and the light modulating device has improved optical performance.

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Provided is a liquid crystal composition with which an optically anisotropic layer having excellent light resistance can be formed and an image display device having an excellent contrast can be manufactured, an optically anisotropic layer, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a liquid crystal compound and a non-liquid crystal compound, in which both of the liquid crystal compound and the non-liquid crystal compound are compounds having any of aromatic rings selected from the group consisting of groups represented by predetermined formulae, and a ratio of a molecular weight of the non-liquid crystal compound to a molecular weight of the liquid crystal compound is 1 or less.

An actuator device comprises a stack formed from a plurality of photoresponsive layers, which deform in response to light, which are partitioned by respective deformable non-photoresponsive layers. The deformable non-photoresponsive layers guide light between and to the photoresponsive layers, and can follow the deformation of the photoresponsive layers.

A polar compound having high chemical stability, high capability of aligning liquid crystal molecules, high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, and a large voltage holding ratio when the compound is used in a liquid crystal display device; and a composition containing the compound. The compound is represented by formula (1). In formula (1), for example, P.sup.1 is a group represented by any one of formulas (1b) to (1i), P.sup.2 is a group represented by formula (1d), Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 are a single bond, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3, Z.sup.4 and Z.sup.5 are —COO—, and ring A.sup.1, ring A.sup.2, ring A.sup.3 and ring A.sup.4 are 1,4-phenylene: ##STR00001##

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.

The present invention relates to benzotriazole derivatives selected from the group of compounds of formulae Ia, Ib and Ic as defined in claim 1, to mesogenic media comprising the compounds of formulae Ia, Ib and Ic, and to the use of these compounds and mesogenic media in optical, electronic and electro-optical applications, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in windows.

The present invention relates to light-scattering liquid crystal devices suited for use in light control glass such as optical shutters and use in segment displays in, for example, clocks. A light-scattering liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes two substrates 1, of which at least one includes an electrode layer 2 and at least one is transparent, and a light control layer 4 held between the substrates, the light control layer 4 containing a liquid crystal material and a polymer substance, wherein the light-scattering liquid crystal device includes, between the substrates and the light control layer, a thin film layer 3 formed by subjecting a thermally curable compound containing a reactive group to thermal curing. According to the present invention, a light-scattering liquid crystal device having dramatically improved adhesion can be provided.