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 water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network, a preparation method and use thereof are provided. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network comprises an interpenetrating polymer network formed by a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer and a polyionic liquid; wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is formed by polymerization of a liquid crystal mixture; and the polyionic liquid contains a hydrophilic group or is a hydrophilic salt. The interpenetrating polymer network is water responsive without needs of activation with an alkaline solution, which simplifies the preparation process, and has stable water responsiveness performance after prolonged and/or repeated exposure to water. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network can be used to prepare light reflective coatings and reflective devices, and has higher commercial value.

Disclosed is a polymerizable liquid crystal material wherein an amount of a salt represented by the following formula (I) is less than 0.01 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, and an amount of a nitrogen-containing compound represented by the following formula (II) is 0.01 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C7 alkyl group, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 represents a hydrogen atom, and X represents F.sup.−, Br.sup.−, Cl.sup.−, I.sup.−, HSO.sub.4.sup.−, 1/2(HPO.sub.4.sup.2−), H.sub.2PO.sub.4.sup.−, R—C(═O)—O.sup.−, 1/2(.sup.−O—(C═O)—R′—(C═O)—O.sup.−) or R—SO.sub.3.sup.−, where R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and R′ represents a single bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group. ##STR00001##

Disclosed is a polymerizable liquid crystal material wherein an amount of a salt represented by the following formula (I) is less than 0.01 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of a polymerizable liquid crystal compound, and an amount of a nitrogen-containing compound represented by the following formula (II) is 0.01 parts by mass or less per 100 parts by mass of the polymerizable liquid crystal compound. R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a C1-C7 alkyl group, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 represents a hydrogen atom, and X represents F.sup.−, Br.sup.−, Cl.sup.−, I.sup.−, HSO.sub.4.sup.−, 1/2(HPO.sub.4.sup.2−), H.sub.2PO.sub.4.sup.−, R—C(═O)—O.sup.−, 1/2(.sup.−O—(C═O)—R′—(C═O)—O.sup.−) or R—SO.sub.3.sup.−, where R represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and R′ represents a single bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group. ##STR00001##

A liquid crystal polyester resin composition includes: (A) liquid crystal polyester; (B) talc; and (C) mica, in which the total amount ((B)+(C)) of the (B) talc and the (C) mica is in a range of 5 parts by mass to 100 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the (A) liquid crystal polyester, and a mass ratio ((B)/(C)) of a mass of the (B) talc to a mass of the (C) mica is in a range of 9/1 to 1/9.

A liquid-crystal polymer includes at least one repeating unit having a spiro structure, and the repeating unit occupies 1 mol % to 20 mol % of the liquid-crystal polymer. The liquid-crystal polymer is composed of the following repeating units: 1 mol % to 20 mol % of ##STR00001##
10 mol % to 35 mol % of ##STR00002##
10 mol % to 35 mol % of ##STR00003##
10 mol % to
50 mol % of ##STR00004##
and 10 mol % to 40 mol % of ##STR00005##
AR.sup.1 is ##STR00006##
wherein each of ring R and ring S is independently a C.sub.3-20 ring, ring R and ring S share a carbon atom, and each of K.sup.1 and K.sup.2 is independently a C.sub.5-20 conjugated system. Each of AR.sup.2, AR.sup.3, AR.sup.4, and AR.sup.5 is independently AR.sup.6 or AR.sup.6—Z—AR.sup.7.

Provided is a polymerizable composition including a quantum dot, a polyfunctional thiol, a first (meth)acrylate, and a second (meth)acrylate, in which the first (meth)acrylate is a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, the second (meth)acrylate is a mono- or higher functional (meth)acrylate having a functional group selected from the group consisting of a carboxy group, a hydroxy group, a phosphate group, and an amino group, and a molecular weight of the second (meth)acrylate is equal to or less than a molecular weight of the polyfunctional thiol.

A liquid crystal composition is provided containing a first liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1): ##STR00001##
and a second liquid crystal compound represented by formula (2): ##STR00002## Also provided is a method for producing the liquid crystal composition having a desired wavelength dispersion characteristic.

Provided is an optical laminate used for a viewing angle control system, and an image display device, including a light absorption anisotropic layer formed of a liquid crystal composition containing a liquid crystal compound and a dichroic substance, a first adjacent layer in contact with one surface of the light absorption anisotropic layer, and a second adjacent layer in contact with a surface of the light absorption anisotropic layer opposite to the one surface, in which a content of the dichroic substance is 7.0% by mass or greater, an angle θs between a transmittance central axis of the light absorption anisotropic layer and a surface of the light absorption anisotropic layer in a normal direction is in a range of 5° to 60°, and both refractive indices n1 and n2 of the first and second adjacent layers, respectively, are in a range of 1.46 to 1.72.

An optically anisotropic multi-layered product including an optically anisotropic layer (Sm), and an optically anisotropic layer (N), wherein: the optically anisotropic layer (Sm) is an optically anisotropic layer that contains a liquid crystal compound (A-Sm) fixed in a state in which a smectic liquid crystal phase is exhibited; the optically anisotropic layer (N) is an optically anisotropic layer that contains a liquid crystal compound (A-N) fixed in a state in which a nematic liquid crystal phase is exhibited; and the optically anisotropic layer (Sm) and the optically anisotropic layer (N) have a common in-plane slow axis direction. A method for producing the optically anisotropic multi-layered product is also provided.