This invention provides an FFS type liquid crystal display containing one type or two or more types of compounds selected from the group of compounds represented by General Formula (i), General Formula (ii), and General Formula (iii) and one type or two or more types of compounds selected from compounds represented by General Formula (II). This display makes it possible to realize excellent display characteristics without deteriorating various liquid crystal display characteristics such as dielectric anisotropy, viscosity, nematic-phase maximum temperature, nematic-phase stability at low temperatures, or γ.sub.1 and the display burn-in characteristics.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition including at least one compound represented by General Formula (1), at least one compound represented by General Formula (2), and at least one compound represented by General Formula (LC1).

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The liquid crystal composition of the present invention has high refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and sufficiently low viscosity (η), achieves a wide nematic phase temperature range by suppressing a decrease in nematic phase-isotropic liquid phase transition temperature (T.sub.ni), and exhibits high compatibility. By using the liquid crystal composition of the present invention in a liquid crystal display element, a liquid crystal display element having a high response speed and high practical reliability can be obtained.

The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media (LC media) having negative or positive dielectric anisotropy, comprising a low-molecular-weight component and a polymerizable component. The polymerizable component comprises self-aligning, polymerizable mesogens (polymerizable self-alignment additives) which effect homeotropic (vertical) alignment of the LC media at a surface or the cell walls of a liquid-crystal display (LC display). The invention therefore also encompasses LC displays having homeotropic alignment of the LC medium without alignment layers. The invention discloses novel structures for self-alignment additives which have a certain position of the functional groups.

A diacetylene-based lyotropic liquid crystal mixture according to an embodiment includes by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2. The lyotropic liquid crystal mixture may be prepared by synthesizing an [X]—C—R.sub.m-[D]-R.sub.n compound, synthesizing an [A.sup.+X.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound, and synthesizing an [A.sup.+B.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound. A thin polarizing film may be prepared through simple coating of a lyotropic liquid crystal mixture prepared by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide.

A diacetylene-based lyotropic liquid crystal mixture according to an embodiment includes by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2. The lyotropic liquid crystal mixture may be prepared by synthesizing an [X]—C—R.sub.m-[D]-R.sub.n compound, synthesizing an [A.sup.+X.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound, and synthesizing an [A.sup.+B.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound. A thin polarizing film may be prepared through simple coating of a lyotropic liquid crystal mixture prepared by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide.

A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, a liquid crystal composition for an optical element comprising the same, a polymer polymerized from the same, an optically anisotropic body comprising a cured material or polymerized reactant of the liquid crystal composition or the polymer, and an optical element for a display device comprising the optical anisotropic body are disclosed herein.

A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, a liquid crystal composition for an optical element comprising the same, a polymer polymerized from the same, an optically anisotropic body comprising a cured material or polymerized reactant of the liquid crystal composition or the polymer, and an optical element for a display device comprising the optical anisotropic body are disclosed herein.

A diacetylene-based lyotropic liquid crystal mixture according to an embodiment includes by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2. The lyotropic liquid crystal mixture may be prepared by synthesizing an [X]—C—R.sub.m-[D]-R.sub.n compound, synthesizing an [A.sup.+X.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound, and synthesizing an [A.sup.+B.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound. A thin polarizing film may be prepared through simple coating of a lyotropic liquid crystal mixture prepared by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide.

A diacetylene-based lyotropic liquid crystal mixture according to an embodiment includes by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide Chemical Formula 1 and Chemical Formula 2. The lyotropic liquid crystal mixture may be prepared by synthesizing an [X]—C—R.sub.m-[D]-R.sub.n compound, synthesizing an [A.sup.+X.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound, and synthesizing an [A.sup.+B.sup.−]—C—R.sub.m-D-R.sub.n compound. A thin polarizing film may be prepared through simple coating of a lyotropic liquid crystal mixture prepared by mixing diacetylene-based compounds containing iodide and triiodide.

There are provided a liquid crystal composition containing one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (L) and three or four or more dichroic dyes selected from azo compounds, and a guest-host liquid crystal display device or light-controlling device that uses the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition according to the present invention contains dichroic dyes that satisfy high contrast, high solubility, high nematic-isotropic transition temperature (T.sub.NI), and low birefringent anisotropy (Δn) effective for high light resistance and high thermal resistance at the same time. The use of the liquid crystal composition according to the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device or a light-controlling device that exhibits a good-looking black color and has high contrast, high display quality, and high practicality.