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##

Solid foam structures having multiple compartments comprising 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, photonics, luminescent coatings and multi-compartment encapsulation technologies.

A liquid crystal composition having one or more compounds represented by formula I, one or more compounds represented by formula II and one or more compounds represented by formula III: ##STR00001##
The liquid crystal composition has a good stability against light and heat and a lower viscosity, and can achieve a wider refractive index and higher clearing point by the adjustment the ratio of the monomers. In particular, the liquid crystal composition has a higher light transmittance, allowing a display device to have a higher brightness or an energy saving effect.

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10 or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.

A LC lens and a liquid-crystal medium used in said LC lens, wherein the medium contains one or more compounds of each of formulae I and II

##STR00001##

To suppress a phenomenon where an optical axis of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted when the optically anisotropic layer is produced by using a liquid crystalline compound showing smectic phase as a materials showing a higher level of orderliness. An optically anisotropic layer wherein a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase, and a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10 or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer, a method for manufacturing the same, a laminate and a method for manufacturing the same, a polarizing plate, a liquid crystal display device, and an organic EL display device.

Solid foam structures having multiple compartments comprising 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, photonics, luminescent coatings and multi-compartment encapsulation technologies.

The present invention provides a compound represented by the general formula (I), and a polymerizable composition containing the compound. When the polymerizable composition containing the compound represented by the formula (I) is used to form a filmy product, the resulting filmy product exhibits less change over time in phase difference and reverse wavelength dispersion and when the filmy polymer is irradiated with UV light, peeling from a substrate is unlikely to be caused. Further, the invention provides a polymer obtained through polymerization of the polymerizable composition and an optically anisotropic body obtained using the polymer.

Provided is a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1). ##STR00001## An aspect can be exemplified, in which, in formula (1), W.sup.1 is hydrogen or a substituent, A.sup.1 is 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene or naphthalene-2,6-diyl, Z.sup.1 and Y.sup.1 are a connecting group, m and n each are an integer from 0 to 7, in which an expression: 3m+n8 holds, Q.sup.1 is a spacer, and PG is a polymerizable group.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that includes: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal layer held between the substrates; an alignment film disposed on a liquid crystal layer side surface of at least one of the substrates; and a polymer layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film, the liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal compounds aligned in a predetermined direction with no voltage applied, the alignment film containing a first polymer containing in its main chain at least one selected from a polyamic acid structure and a polyimide structure, the first polymer containing a functional group that functions as a polymerization initiator, the polymer layer containing a second polymer obtained by polymerizing at least one monomer containing a chalcone group.