Methods and compositions for detecting a targeted analyte, such as volatile organic compound (VOCs), are disclosed. Specifically, a cholesteric liquid crystal composition comprising a nematic liquid crystal and a chiral dopant transitions to a liquid crystal blue phase or undergoes other optical changes when in contact with a sample containing the analyte. The phase transition can be readily detected with the naked eye. The disclosed methods and compositions may be used in, for example, dosimeters for detecting analyte (e.g., VOC) exposure. Methods and compositions for producing arrays of liquid crystal thin films are also disclosed. The surface between the microwells in a microwell array is coated with a liquid-crystal-phobic material, such as a fluorinated polymer or a fluorinated silane, creating isolated microwell domains that are preferentially wetted by liquid crystal. Liquid crystal can be added to the microwell domains by simple techniques such as spin coating.

A liquid crystal display device which enables reductions in image sticking and droplet stains caused in production thereof without degradation of properties such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, the upper limit of the temperature of nematic phase, and rotational viscosity (.sub.1); and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition is disposed between a substrate provided with a common electrode and a color filter layer and another substrate provided with a plurality of pixels each having a pixel electrode, each of the substrates is not provided with an alignment film but provided with an orientation controlling layer composed of at least two polymerizable compounds, each of the pixels has two or more regions having different directions of pretilt, and the liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by General Formula (I) and a compound represented by General Formula (II).

A liquid crystal display device which enables reductions in image sticking and droplet stains caused in production thereof without degradation of properties such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, the upper limit of the temperature of nematic phase, and rotational viscosity (.sub.1); and a method for manufacturing such a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that a liquid crystal layer containing a liquid crystal composition is disposed between a substrate provided with a common electrode and a color filter layer and another substrate provided with a plurality of pixels each having a pixel electrode, each of the substrates is not provided with an alignment film but provided with an orientation controlling layer composed of at least two polymerizable compounds, each of the pixels has two or more regions having different directions of pretilt, and the liquid crystal composition contains a compound represented by General Formula (I) and a compound represented by General Formula (II).

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition having low birefringence which contains at least two types of polymerizable compounds represented by Formula (I):

Q.sup.1-Sp.sup.1A-L.sub.mSp.sup.2-Q.sup.2(I) in the formula, A represents a phenylene or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, L represents OC(O), OC(O)O, and the like, m represents 3 to 12, Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 represent an alkylene of which CH.sub.2 may be substituted with O or the like, and the like, and Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 represent a polymerizable group, and the like, in which when a number obtained by dividing the number of trans-1,4-cyclohexylenes represented by A by m is set to mc, the polymerizable compounds include a polymerizable compound satisfying 0.5<mc<0.7 and a polymerizable compound satisfying 0.1<mc<0.3. A film such as a low birefringence phase difference film or a reflection film having high selectivity in a reflection wavelength range can be provided by using the polymerizable composition.

The present invention provides a polymerizable composition having low birefringence which contains at least two types of polymerizable compounds represented by Formula (I):

Q.sup.1-Sp.sup.1A-L.sub.mSp.sup.2-Q.sup.2(I) in the formula, A represents a phenylene or a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene, L represents OC(O), OC(O)O, and the like, m represents 3 to 12, Sp.sup.1 and Sp.sup.2 represent an alkylene of which CH.sub.2 may be substituted with O or the like, and the like, and Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 represent a polymerizable group, and the like, in which when a number obtained by dividing the number of trans-1,4-cyclohexylenes represented by A by m is set to mc, the polymerizable compounds include a polymerizable compound satisfying 0.5<mc<0.7 and a polymerizable compound satisfying 0.1<mc<0.3. A film such as a low birefringence phase difference film or a reflection film having high selectivity in a reflection wavelength range can be provided by using the polymerizable composition.

A compound and a liquid-crystal composition employing the same are provided. The compound has a structure represented by Formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein Z.sup.a and Z.sup.b are independently

##STR00002##

A.sup.1, A.sup.2, A.sup.3 and A.sup.4 are independently single bond,

##STR00003##

Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Z.sup.3, and Z.sup.4 are independently single bond,

##STR00004##

R is independently hydrogen, or C.sub.1-4 alkyl group; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently single bond, O(CH.sub.2).sub.n, CHCH(CH.sub.2).sub.2, (CH.sub.2).sub.2CHCH, CHCH, or CC; n is an integer from 1 to 6; B.sup.1 and B.sup.2 are independently

##STR00005##

and, R.sup.3 is hydrogen, or methyl group.

There is provided a liquid crystal composition which is suitably used in a liquid crystal display device without impairment of properties inherent in liquid crystal display devices. There is provided a liquid crystal display device in which such a liquid crystal composition is used. There is provided a liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy and containing a compound represented by Formula (I-1) and at least one compound represented by General Formula (II) and also provided a liquid crystal display device in which such a liquid crystal composition is used.

A linear photopolymerizable polymer (LPP) layer is situated to align liquid crystal molecules in a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer (Ch-LCP) layer situated at or on the LPP layers. The Ch-LCP layer includes a patterned area and an unpatterned area. The patterned area and the un-patterned area have different optical properties. The Ch-LCP layer can be tuned to transmit light of a desired frequency and handedness. Single and multiple-layered LPP/Ch-LCP and/or LPP/LCP structures can be provided as patterned polarizers, patterned retarders and other devices.

A linear photopolymerizable polymer (LPP) layer is situated to align liquid crystal molecules in a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer (Ch-LCP) layer situated at or on the LPP layers. The Ch-LCP layer includes a patterned area and an unpatterned area. The patterned area and the un-patterned area have different optical properties. The Ch-LCP layer can be tuned to transmit light of a desired frequency and handedness. Single and multiple-layered LPP/Ch-LCP and/or LPP/LCP structures can be provided as patterned polarizers, patterned retarders and other devices.

According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element includes a transparent substrate, and a liquid crystal layer which faces the transparent substrate and has a cholesteric liquid crystal and an additive exhibiting liquid crystallinity. Refractive anisotropy of the additive is less than refractive anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer.