Provided are an optically anisotropic film which has excellent moisture-heat resistance and can have a reduction in the thickness, an optical film, a polarizing plate, and an image display device. The optically anisotropic film is obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition, in which the polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (1): L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-(E.sup.3-A.sup.1).sub.m-E.sup.1-G.sup.1-D.sup.1-Ar.sup.1-D.sup.2-G.sup.2-E.sup.2-(A.sup.2-E.sup.4).sub.n-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2 and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Formula (2): L.sup.1-SP.sup.1-(E.sup.3-A.sup.1).sub.m-E.sup.1-G.sup.1-D.sup.1-Ar.sup.2-D.sup.2-G.sup.2-E.sup.2-(A.sup.2-E.sup.4).sub.n-SP.sup.2-L.sup.2, and the optically anisotropic film satisfies Formula (3): Re(450)/Re(550)<1 or Formula (4): Rth(450)/Rth(550)<1, and has a degree of alignment as measured by Raman spectroscopy of 0.4 or more.

A black liquid-crystal polymer film that contains a black pigment and a liquid crystal polymer and the black liquid-crystal polymer film has a lightness of 45 or less, a dielectric loss tangent of 0.0035 or less, a minimum dielectric breakdown strength of 60 kV/mm or more, and a maximum-to-minimum ratio of in-plane thermal linear expansion coefficient in the range of 1.0 to 2.5.

A black liquid-crystal polymer film that contains a black pigment and a liquid crystal polymer and the black liquid-crystal polymer film has a lightness of 45 or less, a dielectric loss tangent of 0.0035 or less, a minimum dielectric breakdown strength of 60 kV/mm or more, and a maximum-to-minimum ratio of in-plane thermal linear expansion coefficient in the range of 1.0 to 2.5.

An optically transparent actuator apparatus is provided that includes an optically transparent bi-stable member including an optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layer. The bi-stable member is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus and from the second state to the first state in response to a second stimulus. Also, a display apparatus includes a plate member and an actuator assembly coupled to the plate member. The actuator assembly includes a number of optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers, wherein each of the optically transparent liquid crystalline polymer layers is structured to move from a first state to a second state in response to a first stimulus.

LC media and LC displays containing an LC medium with positive dielectric anisotropy, which contains one or more compounds of formula I in a concentration of >0 and ≤10% ##STR00001##
and displays addressed by an active matrix and in particular displays of the IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, PS-FFS, HB-FFS, U-IPS, TN, PS-TN, STN or TN-TFT mode.

There is provided a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) material for the deformed helix FLC (DHFLC) electro-optical mode devices and shows optimum electro-optical properties including high tilt angle (>38°), and short helix pitch (<120 nm), and spontaneous polarization (>100 nC/cm.sup.2) comprising at least two components, wherein at least one FLC component is a chiral compound of Formula (I):

##STR00001##

particularly:

##STR00002##

wherein W.sub.1 and W.sub.2 are chiral groups with polar substituent at chiral centre, A and B are independently N atom or CH groups providing that at least one of A or B is N atom. Other various groups are as defined herein.

There are provided a projection image-displaying member, a windshield glass, and a head-up display system in which both high visible light transmittance and good tint of a screen image displayed are achieved. The projection image-displaying member has a selectively reflecting layer that wavelength-selectively reflects light. The selectively reflecting layer has a maximum reflectivity in a wavelength range of 700 to 850 nm at an incidence angle of 5° and has a peak with a reflectivity of 15% or more in a wavelength range of 470 to 540 nm. The selectively reflecting layer further has two or more peaks of reflectivity in a wavelength range of 540 to 700 nm.

Liquid-crystalline (LC) media having positive dielectric anisotropy and liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) containing these media, especially displays addressed by an active matrix and in particular to LC displays of the TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS PS-FFS, SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, positive VA or positive PS-VA type.

Synthetic two- or three-dimensional structures are described that include directional negative, near-zero, or zero Poisson ratio. Methods for forming the structures are also described. Disclosed structures mimic disclination networks as occur in soft cubic blue phase high chirality liquid crystals. Disclination networks can be based upon BPI or BPII phases and can include modifications as compared to an undistorted bulk blue phase crystal.

Provided are compositions that include a nematic colloid, the nematic colloid comprising a nematic liquid crystal and a key colloid; and a lock colloid, the lock colloid optionally having at least two arms extending therefrom, the lock colloid being configured for assembly with the key colloid of the nematic colloid, the assembly optionally being mediated by a dipole interaction between the colloid and the lock colloid, by a disinclination line of the nematic colloid, or any combination thereof. Also provided are related methods. The disclosed compositions and methods can be used to, e.g., assemble chain and lattice structures from the key colloids by exploiting disinclination lines and dipole defects of the components of the compositions.