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.

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##

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.

A polarizing film including a polarizer that is a cured product of a polymerizable liquid crystal composition is provided. The polymerizable liquid crystal composition contains both a polymerizable liquid crystal compound having at least one polymerizable group and a dichroic coloring matter. The polarizer is laminated on a surface, having a pore size of 0.45 nm to 0.57 nm, of a base material. The pore size is obtained by converting, into a diameter, an average free volume radius calculated by a positron lifetime measurement method in which the positron lifetime is measured by irradiating the surface with positrons with an injection energy of 3 kV.

Provided is an optical film capable of neutralizing both the tint as viewed in a transmittance central axis direction and the tint as viewed in a direction inclined from a transmittance central axis, and an optical laminate and an image display device formed of this optical film. The optical film includes a light absorption anisotropic layer in which an angle θ between a transmittance central axis and a normal direction of a layer surface is in a range of 0° to 45°, and a tint adjusting layer containing at least one organic coloring agent compound

Provided is an optical film capable of neutralizing both the tint as viewed in a transmittance central axis direction and the tint as viewed in a direction inclined from a transmittance central axis, and an optical laminate and an image display device formed of this optical film. The optical film includes a light absorption anisotropic layer in which an angle θ between a transmittance central axis and a normal direction of a layer surface is in a range of 0° to 45°, and a tint adjusting layer containing at least one organic coloring agent compound

A series of 8-(bisphenylethynyl)-ester flexible multiple ring-containing fluoroboron pyrrole liquid crystal dyes are synthesized by introducing a diphenylethynyl rigid structure at position 8 of a boron-dipyrromethene core via a Sonogashira coupling reaction, and a flexible multiple ring such as bicyclohexane, or cholesterol is connected to the biphenylethynyl via an esterification reaction. The dye compounds all have maximum emission wavelengths in methylene chloride concentrated around 525 nm, present green fluorescence, and show good dichroic colour ratios and ordered parameters in E7 liquid crystal. The liquid crystal compounds are in a liquid crystal intermediate phase within the range of 100-280° C., and may be used for manufacturing liquid crystal display products, especially as guest dyes for guest-host mode liquid crystal displays. The response time can be improved and a rapid response effect achieved when the compounds are added to E7 liquid crystal and used for a guest-host display mode.

A series of 8-(bisphenylethynyl)-ester flexible multiple ring-containing fluoroboron pyrrole liquid crystal dyes are synthesized by introducing a diphenylethynyl rigid structure at position 8 of a boron-dipyrromethene core via a Sonogashira coupling reaction, and a flexible multiple ring such as bicyclohexane, or cholesterol is connected to the biphenylethynyl via an esterification reaction. The dye compounds all have maximum emission wavelengths in methylene chloride concentrated around 525 nm, present green fluorescence, and show good dichroic colour ratios and ordered parameters in E7 liquid crystal. The liquid crystal compounds are in a liquid crystal intermediate phase within the range of 100-280° C., and may be used for manufacturing liquid crystal display products, especially as guest dyes for guest-host mode liquid crystal displays. The response time can be improved and a rapid response effect achieved when the compounds are added to E7 liquid crystal and used for a guest-host display mode.

A coating composition, a method for manufacturing a substrate using the same, and an optical device are provided. The method for manufacturing the substrate provides the substrate having excellent performance, as the substrate has fixed spacers on its surface by using a single layer in which nanoparticles and spacers are dispersed in an alignment film to reduce processes and cost. The optical device may be manufactured by such method.

A coating composition, a method for manufacturing a substrate using the same, and an optical device are provided. The method for manufacturing the substrate provides the substrate having excellent performance, as the substrate has fixed spacers on its surface by using a single layer in which nanoparticles and spacers are dispersed in an alignment film to reduce processes and cost. The optical device may be manufactured by such method.