This invention relates to a gel comprising a colloid dispersed in a lyotropic nematic liquid crystal, the lyotropic nematic liquid crystal comprising defect lines formed by the colloid. The invention also relates to a method for making the gel comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a nematogen with a liquid and the colloid to form a resulting dispersion, and (b) applying shear to the resulting dispersion at a temperature such that a lyotropic nematic liquid crystal phase is formed. In addition, the invention relates to an adhesive, lubricant, ceramic, film, spray, gel, lotion, foam, nanowire, yarn, medical implant, wearable, bone graft material, 3D printing material, ink, agrochemical formulation, topical formulation, paint, coating, composite, energy storage material, advanced material, responsive composite, cosmetic product, personal care product, pharmaceutical or foodstuff comprising the gel.

To show a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature thereof, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large positive dielectric anisotropy or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics, and an AM device including the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having high maximum temperature and low minimum temperature as a first component, and the liquid crystal composition may contain a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a second component, a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component, a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component, or a specific compound having negative dielectric anisotropy as a fifth component.

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.

A liquid crystal cell includes a pair of facing substrates having a photo-alignment film, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal material contains a liquid crystal compound having a structure represented by any of the following chemical formula (1-1) and chemical formula (1-2):

A.sub.1-C.sub.nF.sub.2nX.sub.1-A.sub.2(1-1)

A.sub.1-X.sub.1C.sub.nF.sub.2n+1(1-2)

in the chemical formula (1-1), A.sub.1 is a phenyl group, a phenylene group, a naphthyl group, a naphthylene group, a cyclohexyl group, or a cyclohexylene group; A.sub.2 is a phenyl group, a phenylene group, a naphthyl group, or a naphthylene group (provided that a hydrogen atom in functional groups A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 is optionally substituted by a fluoro group, a chloro group, a bromo group, a methyl group, or an ethyl group); X.sub.1 is an oxygen atom or a direct bond; and n is an integer of 1 to 6. The photo-alignment film is obtained by subjecting a polymer film to a photo-alignment treatment.

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, XB-FFS, PS-FFS, SA-HB-FFS, SA-XB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-XB-FFS, positive VA or positive PS-VA type.

The disclosure shows a liquid-crystal composition having at least one or suitable balance regarding at least two of characteristics such as high maximum temperature of nematic phase, low minimum temperature thereof, small viscosity, suitable optical-anisotropy, large dielectric-anisotropy, large specific resistance, high stability to ultraviolet light and heat; and an AM device including the composition and having short response time, large voltage holding ratio, large contrast ratio or long life. The liquid-crystal composition has the nematic phase and contains a specific compound having small optical-anisotropy and large positive dielectric-anisotropy as first component, a specific compound having small viscosity as second component, and may contain a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as third component, a specific compound having large positive-dielectric anisotropy as fourth component or a specific compound having negative dielectric-anisotropy as fifth component, and a liquid-crystal display device includes the composition.

The application relates to a device for regulating the entry of light into a room, which comprises a switchable layer of specific design comprising a twisted nematic liquid-crystalline medium and a dichroic compound.

Methods and systems for an electro-optic filter that operates in two modes-a homogeneous mode and a heterogeneous mode. The homogeneous mode maintains a relatively homogeneous shading/attenuation range across specified viewing angles in both the vertical and horizontal directions. The heterogeneous mode provides for relatively homogeneous shading/attenuation range across specified viewing angles in the horizontal direction but allows for gradual and a more varying (e.g., wider) range of shading/attenuation changes across the specified viewing angles in the vertical direction, e.g., as compared to the horizontal direction.

A liquid crystal composition has the nematic phase and contains a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a first component, a specific compound having small viscosity as a second component, and may contain a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component, a specific compound having large positive dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component or a specific compound having negative dielectric anisotropy as a fifth component, and a liquid crystal display device includes the composition.

To provide a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one characteristic such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature thereof, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and heat, or a liquid crystal composition having a suitable balance regarding at least two characteristics, and an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio and a long service life; a liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a polymerizable group as a first component, and may contain a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a second component or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device contains the composition.