Shown is a method for producing a liquid crystal capsule having a particle diameter of 30 to 150 nanometers, and a method for producing a liquid crystal capsule without using a homogenizer. The disclosure concerns a method for producing a liquid crystal capsule, including a step of preparing an emulsion by performing phase inversion emulsification of a mixed material obtained by mixing a liquid crystal composition, a monomer, a surfactant, and a polymerization initiator; and a step of producing a liquid crystal capsule by applying a coacervation method to the emulsion. The disclosure also concerns a liquid crystal capsule having a liquid crystal composition, a surfactant and a capsule wall, wherein the capsule wall has a closed curved shape, the liquid crystal composition and a hydrophobic moiety of the surfactant are arranged inside the capsule wall, and a hydrophilic moiety of the surfactant is arranged outside the capsule wall.

The invention provides a liquid crystal compound satisfying at least one of physical properties such as a high stability to heat or light, a high clearing point (or a high maximum temperature), a low minimum temperature of a liquid crystal phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a small dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant and a good compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, a liquid crystal composition including this compound, and a liquid crystal display device containing this composition. The invention provdes a compound represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons or the like; one of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 is both hydrogens, and the other is both fluorines; Z.sup.1 and Z.sup.2 are independently a single bond, —COO—, —OCO—, —OCH.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2O—, —CF.sub.2O—, —OCF.sub.2—, —CH.sub.2CH.sub.2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C— or the like.

A light valve that is operable in and electrically switchable between an optically clear and transparent state and an opaque state, wherein one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds provided in a layer containing a liquid-crystalline medium that comprises one or more mesogenic compounds, one or more chiral compounds, one or more dichroic dyes and the one or more polymerisable mesogenic compounds are subjected to photopolymerisation. Further, a liquid-crystalline medium used in the method, a light valve obtained or respectively obtainable by carrying out the method, and the use of the light valve in mobile devices.

The subject is to provide liquid crystal display device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a low threshold voltage, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and a small flicker rate.

The liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal alignment film formed on the opposing surfaces of a pair of substrates, and a liquid crystal composition therebetween, wherein the liquid crystal alignment film includes a polymer derived from a polyamic acid having a photodegradable group, and the liquid crystal composition includes at least one compound represented by formula (1) as a first component:

##STR00001##

R.sup.1 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons or the like; ring A is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; Z.sup.1 is a single bond or the like; X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 are hydrogen or fluorine; Y.sup.1 is fluorine or the like; and a is 1, 2, 3 or 4.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition that has positive Δ∈, exhibits a liquid crystal phase over a wide temperature range, has low viscosity, excellent solubility at low temperatures, and high resistivity and voltage holding ratio, and is stable against heat and light. By using this composition, IPS or TN liquid crystal display devices and the like that have excellent display quality and suppress display failures such as image-sticking and drop marks are provided in high yield.

Provided is a composition that contains at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by general formulae (i) and (ii) and at least one selected from compounds represented by general formula (iii). Moreover, a liquid crystal display device using the composition and an IPS or FFS device that uses the composition are provided.

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display that incorporates a particular liquid crystal composition and a sealant in which a cured form of a particular curable resin composition is used. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display that prevents reduced voltage holding ratio (VHR) and increased ionic density (ID) in the liquid crystal layer and solves the problems of display defects such as voids, alignment irregularities, and image-sticking. Liquid crystal displays according to the present invention, featuring the ability to prevent reduced voltage holding ratio (VHR) in the liquid crystal layer and reduce the occurrence of display defects such as alignment irregularities and image-sticking, are useful particularly to liquid crystal displays in the IPS and FFS modes for active matrix drive and applicable to liquid crystal displays of equipment such as liquid crystal TVs, monitors, mobile phones, and smartphones.

A liquid crystal display device that prevents a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) and an increase in the ion density (ID) in a liquid crystal layer and that resolves the problems of display defects, such as white streaks, variations in alignment, and image sticking. The liquid crystal display has features of preventing a decrease in the voltage holding ratio (VHR) and an increase in the ion density (ID) in a liquid crystal layer and suppressing display defects such as image sticking. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device is particularly useful for active matrix driving liquid crystal display devices with an IPS mode or an FFS mode and can be applied to liquid crystal display devices of, for example, liquid crystal televisions, monitors, cellular phones, and smart phones.

Provided are a polymerizable compound having at least one monovalent group (A), a polymerizable composition containing the polymerizable compound, a liquid crystal composite prepared from the polymerizable composition, and a liquid crystal device having the polymerizable composition. ##STR00001## In monovalent group (A), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, halogen or alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons, and in the alkyl, at least one piece of —CH.sub.2— may be replaced by —O— or —S—, and at least one piece of —(CH.sub.2).sub.2— may be replaced by —CH═CH—, and in the groups, at least one hydrogen may be replaced by halogen.

A double layer liquid crystal device comprises a first and a second layer with orthogonal or crossed alignment of the liquid crystal phase of the two layers, in which the first and second layer have first and second alignment aids comprised of a polymerized or polymerizable molecular compound. The layers are aligned by UV photoalignment and vertical self-alignment by the aid of suitable additives.

The present invention relates to polymerisable compounds, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, to liquid-crystal (LC) media comprising them, and to the use of the polymerisable compounds and LC media for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, especially in LC displays of the polymer sustained alignment (PS, PSA) and self-aligning (SA) type.