A liquid crystal cell includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and a sealant. The pair of substrates includes opposing surfaces on which a photo-alignment film is provided. The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the substrates. The sealant is interposed between the substrates so as to surround the liquid crystal layer. The photo-alignment film contains a polymer having a polyamic acid as a main chain and a photo-functional group. The liquid crystal layer contains: a first liquid crystal compound having an unsaturated bond; and a second liquid crystal compound containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: a compound represented by a formula (I): A1-CnF2nB-A2; and a compound represented by a formula (II): A1-BCnF2n+1, where n, A1, A2 and B are as defined herein.

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

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

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition that realizes high n, has a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, small viscosity, excellent low-temperature solubility, and high resistivity and voltage holding ratio, and is stable against heat and light, and to provide a liquid crystal composition having an excellent lens effect and excellent chemical stability using the composition, and a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal lens that use the liquid crystal composition. The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition that contains one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (i) and one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (ii), a liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal lens using the liquid crystal composition, and a birefringence lens for stereoscopic image display using the liquid crystal composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a composition that realizes high n, has a wide liquid crystal phase temperature range, small viscosity, excellent low-temperature solubility, and high resistivity and voltage holding ratio, and is stable against heat and light, and to provide a liquid crystal composition having an excellent lens effect and excellent chemical stability using the composition, and a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal lens that use the liquid crystal composition. The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition that contains one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (i) and one or two or more compounds represented by general formula (ii), a liquid crystal display device using the liquid crystal composition, a liquid crystal lens using the liquid crystal composition, and a birefringence lens for stereoscopic image display using the liquid crystal composition.

A polarizing plate including a substrate and a polarizer is provided. The polarizer has a polarizing layer having a thickness of 5 m or less in which a dichroic dye is oriented. The absorbance in the absorption axis direction (A1) of the polarizer at a wavelength of 380 to 760 nm is 0.3 or more and 1.5 or less, and the absorbance in the transmission axis direction (A2) is 0.001 or more and 0.15 or less.

A means is a compound represented by formula (1) , a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device including the composition.

##STR00001##

In formula (1), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently alkyl having 1 to 15 carbons or the like; ring A.sup.1, ring A.sup.2 and ring A.sup.3 are independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or the like; and Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 and Z.sup.3 are independently a single bond or the like.

Provided is a liquid crystal composition, comprising: one or more compounds of general formula I accounting for 1-30% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; one or more compounds of general formula II accounting for 1-30% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; one or more compounds of general formula III accounting for 1-20% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; and one or more compounds of general formula IV accounting for 30-80% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition has at least one of the following properties: a large specific resistance, a high voltage holding ratio, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a small viscosity, a low threshold voltage, etc., and is also green and environmentally friendly. The liquid crystal composition is suitable for use in a liquid crystal display device, enabling the liquid crystal display device to have the following properties: a high voltage holding ratio, a short response time, a high contrast ratio, a low energy consumption, and being green and environmentally friendly, etc. ##STR00001##

Provided is a liquid crystal composition, comprising: one or more compounds of general formula I accounting for 1-30% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; one or more compounds of general formula II accounting for 1-30% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; one or more compounds of general formula III accounting for 1-20% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition; and one or more compounds of general formula IV accounting for 30-80% of the total weight of the liquid crystal composition. The liquid crystal composition has at least one of the following properties: a large specific resistance, a high voltage holding ratio, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a small viscosity, a low threshold voltage, etc., and is also green and environmentally friendly. The liquid crystal composition is suitable for use in a liquid crystal display device, enabling the liquid crystal display device to have the following properties: a high voltage holding ratio, a short response time, a high contrast ratio, a low energy consumption, and being green and environmentally friendly, etc. ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition comprising one or more compounds of general formula I and one or more compounds of general formula II; the liquid crystal composition of the present invention can work at very high and very low temperatures, has a very short response time and a better reliability to light and heat, and particularly exhibits no image retention or a significantly reduced image retention after a long time operation.