An improved electro-mechanical principle for converting electric power into mechanical action and vice versa using dielectrics with extreme relative permittivity. The non-magnetic devices are based on relative movement of dielectrics in the presence of electric fields. The energy-saving devices use high-performance dielectrics based on ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals. Linear and circular mechanical action is proposed involving electromechanical actuators, non-magnetic motors and related electrical generators.

The new media exhibit a ferroelectric nematic phase preferably at ambient temperature. They preferably comprise one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae IA, IB and IC,

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in which the variable groups have the meanings indicated in the text and in the claims. Use of the media for providing ferroelectric nematic materials and a method of operation of an electro-optical device are presented. The media may be useful for energy-saving displays and electrical appliances.

LC media exhibiting a ferroelectric nematic phase at ambient temperature, comprising at least one or more compounds of formula IA having at least five rings,

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The mixtures are useful for electro-optics, electronics, electro-mechanic and other applications for materials with very high dielectric permittivity.

The new LC media exhibit a new spontaneous, self-supporting ferroelectric smectic phase. They typically comprise one or more dielectrical neutral, aromatic compounds described further in the description in a highly polar host mixture typical for ferro-electric nematic mixtures. The mixtures are useful for electro-optics, electronics, electro-mechanic and other applications for materials with very high dielectric permittivity. In addition, the present invention relates to liquid crystal devices, electric and electronic elements which contain the liquid crystalline media according to the invention.

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.

A polymer-stabilized liquid crystal (PSLC) composition includes a liquid crystal component having high dielectric constant, a chiral dopant, a stabilizing polymer, and a photo-initiator. Through the application of an applied voltage, the polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition may be implemented to induce pixelated dimming in an AR display.

The new LC media exhibit a ferroelectric nematic phase at ambient temperature. They comprise at least one or more compounds selected from each of formula IA, of formula IB and of the group of formulae IC-1/IC-2/IC-3, ##STR00001##
in which the variable groups have the meanings indicated in the text and in the claims. The mixtures are useful for electro-optics, electronics, electro-mechanic and other applications for materials with very high dielectric permittivity and other energy-saving applications.