An electronic switching element is described having, in sequence, a first electrode, a molecular layer bonded to a substrate, and a second electrode. The molecular layer contains compounds of formula I, R.sup.1-(A.sup.1-Z.sup.1).sub.r—B.sup.1—(Z.sup.2-A.sup.2).sub.s-Sp-G, wherein A.sup.1, A.sup.2, B.sup.1, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Sp, G, r, and s are as defined herein, in which a mesogenic radical is bonded to the substrate via a spacer group, Sp, by means of an anchor group, G. The switching element is suitable for production of components that can operate as a memristive device for digital information storage.

An electronic switching element is described having, in sequence, a first electrode, a molecular layer bonded to a substrate, and a second electrode. The molecular layer contains compounds of formula I, R.sup.1-(A.sup.1-Z.sup.1).sub.r—B.sup.1—(Z.sup.2-A.sup.2).sub.s-Sp-G, wherein A.sup.1, A.sup.2, B.sup.1, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2, Sp, G, r, and s are as defined herein, in which a mesogenic radical is bonded to the substrate via a spacer group, Sp, by means of an anchor group, G. The switching element is suitable for production of components that can operate as a memristive device for digital information storage.

An optical film includes a polarizer. The polarizer includes a base layer, and a material of the base layer is obtained by dyeing a base material with a dye. The base material includes a polyvinyl alcohol material, and the dye is selected from blue dichroism organic dyes.

A polymer liquid crystal compound with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed, a liquid crystalline composition, a light absorption anisotropic film which is formed of the liquid crystalline composition, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystalline composition includes a polymer liquid crystal compound which contains a repeating unit represented by Formula (1) and a dichroic substance. In Formula (1), a difference between a log P value of P1, L1, and SP1 and a log P value of M1 is 4 or greater. In Formula (1), P1 represents a main chain of the repeating unit, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, SP1 represents a spacer group, M1 represents a mesogenic group, and T1 represents a terminal group. ##STR00001##

A polymer liquid crystal compound with which a light absorption anisotropic film having a high alignment degree can be formed, a liquid crystalline composition, a light absorption anisotropic film which is formed of the liquid crystalline composition, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystalline composition includes a polymer liquid crystal compound which contains a repeating unit represented by Formula (1) and a dichroic substance. In Formula (1), a difference between a log P value of P1, L1, and SP1 and a log P value of M1 is 4 or greater. In Formula (1), P1 represents a main chain of the repeating unit, L1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, SP1 represents a spacer group, M1 represents a mesogenic group, and T1 represents a terminal group. ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to azo dye of formula I

##STR00001##

defined in claim 1, to a liquid crystalline medium comprising said azo dye, the use of said medium for optical, electrooptical and electronic purposes, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in windows. The invention further relates to a device containing the liquid crystalline medium according to the invention.

The present invention relates to azo dye of formula I

##STR00001##

defined in claim 1, to a liquid crystalline medium comprising said azo dye, the use of said medium for optical, electrooptical and electronic purposes, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in windows. The invention further relates to a device containing the liquid crystalline medium according to the invention.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of benzothiadiazole and thiadiazoloquinoxaline derivatives, to liquid-crystalline media containing the compositions, and to the use of the compositions and the media in optical, electronic and electro-optical devices, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in switchable windows.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a combination of benzothiadiazole and thiadiazoloquinoxaline derivatives, to liquid-crystalline media containing the compositions, and to the use of the compositions and the media in optical, electronic and electro-optical devices, in particular in devices for regulating the passage of energy from an outside space into an inside space, for example in switchable windows.

Provided are a compound represented by the following general formula (1) ##STR00001##
and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device or a light control device having the liquid crystal composition. The compound represented by general formula (1) has both a large dichroic ratio and high solubility in the host liquid crystal. In addition, it has excellent chemical stability at a level usable as a device. Therefore, by using the compound represented by general formula (1) as a component of a GH-type liquid crystal composition, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device or a light control device with high contrast.