Self-aligned liquid crystal materials and structures are disclosed. The structures can exhibit piezoelectric and flexoelectric properties.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing a cholesteric liquid crystal based shell. The method comprises producing a cholesteric liquid crystal shell, solidifying the cholesteric liquid crystal shell so as to obtain a solid shell and perforating the solid shell. A second aspect of the present invention relates to a cholesteric liquid crystal based solid shell comprising a perforation. Other aspects of the present invention pertain to a coating composition comprising a plurality of cholesteric liquid crystal based solid shells, an item comprising a tag that comprises the cholesteric liquid crystal based solid shells and a method for authenticating the item.

A polymer-dispersed liquid crystal composition, a preparation method of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film, and a display panel are provided. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal composition includes a prepolymer and a liquid crystal molecule, wherein the prepolymer is a fluorine-containing polyimide precursor chemically bonded to a polyaniline, including a polycondensation unit formed from a fluorine-containing dianhydride monomer and a fluorine-containing diamine monomer. In the present application, the conductive polyaniline is chemically bonded to the fluorine-containing polyimide precursor to increase the conductivity of the polyimide precursor. Further, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal film having a driving voltage lower than 30 V and excellent insulating property and radiation resistance is obtained.

Liquid-crystalline (LC) media having positive dielectric anisotropy and liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) containing these media, especially displays addressed by an active matrix and in particular to LC displays of the TN, PS-TN, STN, TN-TFT, OCB, IPS, PS-IPS, FFS, HB-FFS, XB-FFS, PS-FFS, SA-HB-FFS, SA-XB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-HB-FFS, polymer stabilised SA-XB-FFS, positive VA or positive PS-VA type.

A use of zwitterionic compound in preparation of dynamic-scattering-mode-based liquid crystal material. A liquid crystal material is also described. Such material contains liquid crystal and dopant, and the dopant is zwitterionic compound. A liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising such liquid crystal compound and the use of such optical device are also described. Zwitterionic compound is used as dopant to induce a stable dynamic scattering mode in liquid crystals.

A use of zwitterionic compound in preparation of dynamic-scattering-mode-based liquid crystal material. A liquid crystal material is also described. Such material contains liquid crystal and dopant, and the dopant is zwitterionic compound. A liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising such liquid crystal compound and the use of such optical device are also described. Zwitterionic compound is used as dopant to induce a stable dynamic scattering mode in liquid crystals.

Suggested are new adhesion promoters, which are particular suitable for use in displays. Its inclusion in the polymerisable LC mixture results in an excellent adhesion on substrate without colouration over time i.e. compared to amino siloxanes. The new additives have no effect on alignment of LC on the substrate while improving the adhesion.

The invention relates to a composition comprising i) A colorant ii) A radical generating photoinitiator, iii) A polymer wherein at least 40 mol-% of the repeating units are units according to formula (I), [Formula should be inserted herm] wherein R.sup.1 independently of each occurrence is H or CH.sub.3, R.sup.2 is a group of formula (II), [Formula should be inserted here] wherein L is a linking group, n is 0 or 1, and X independently of each occurrence is O or CH.sub.2, R.sup.3 independently of each occurrence is selected from H, COOH, and a group of formula (II), iv) 0.0 to 10.0% by weight, calculated on the on the weight of the polymer iii), of one or ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers having a molecular weight of less than 1500 g/mol.

##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##

The present invention relates to liquid crystal (LC) media comprising one or more polymerisable compounds as further specified in the description or claims and a self-alignment additive for vertical alignment. The media are adapted for use in LC displays, especially in LC displays of the polymer-sustained alignment type.