Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

Provided is an optical film and an electroluminescence display device that suppress a decrease in transmittance of a front surface and suppress a change in tint in an oblique direction with respect to the front surface, in a case of being used in a micro LED. The optical film includes a light absorption anisotropic layer containing a dichroic coloring agent compound, in which the light absorption anisotropic layer has an absorption axis in a normal direction of the film and has an alignment degree of 0.7 or greater at 530 nm, and in a case where transmittances at 460 nm, 530 nm, and 630 nm in a direction of 45° with respect to the normal direction of the film are respectively defined as Tb, Tg, and Tr, relationships of Expressions 0.1≤Tb/Tr≤0.5 (1) and 0.2≤Tg/Tr≤0.6 (2) are satisfied.

Chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure of a concentric multi-shell structure. Each layer of the multi-shell structure is optically and structurally anisotropic. The optical axes of adjacent layers have a sequential slight twist. All layers of the multi-shell structure generate a helix configuration and the chiral polymer microspheres are optically active. A method for preparing the chiral polymer microspheres, includes: forming a homogeneous liquid crystal mixture; dispersing the liquid crystal mixture into a continuous phase to form liquid crystal droplets through an emulsification process; polymerizing the reactive liquid crystal to form intermediate microspheres; and removing the one non-reactive liquid crystal and the chiral additive to form the chiral polymer microspheres. The chiral polymer microspheres have a porous structure and a swelling ability, and can be used as the stationary phase in chiral chromatograph, improving separation efficiency.

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. 10 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., RC(O)O.sup., 1/2(.sup.O(CO)R(CO)O.sup.) or RSO.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.

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Ink-jet printable compositions including nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains and a single solvent exhibiting a single evaporation rate and having a specifically defined viscosity and surface tension that result in uniform and printable alignment layers for liquid crystal materials. Patterned liquid crystal-containing cells are also disclosed including one or more layers including the same or different nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains printed on a surface of a substrate or even another nanoparticle-containing layer. Methods for producing the cells are also disclosed, including the step of printing a pattern on one or more portions of a cell surface utilizing a composition comprising the capped nanoparticles. Devices including the cells are also disclosed.

A liquid crystal polymer composite is disclosed herein. The liquid crystal polymer composite includes a solvent, a soluble liquid crystal polymer, and an additive. The soluble liquid crystal polymer is dissolved in the solvent. The additive includes an organic polymer or inorganic filler, while the additive is dispersed or dissolved in the solvent.

A liquid crystal aligning agent which contains a polymer (A) and a polymer (B). Polymer (A): A polymer which has at least one structural unit U1 selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by formula (1) and structural units represented by formula (2), and a structural unit U2 derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene monomers and (meth)acrylic monomers. Polymer (B): At least one polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamic acids, polyamic acid esters and polyimides. In the formulae, R.sup.7 represents a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms; R.sup.8 represents a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms; and R.sup.9 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having one or more carbon atoms.

The invention relates to a photoalignment composition comprising at least a single photoalignment polymer, preferably a homo- or a copolymer having at least one photoreactive group; and at least a single solvent of formula (I)
(RCOOR),
wherein R and R are independently from each other straight-chain or branched alkyl chain, with the proviso that at least one alkyl chain is branched. Further, the present invention relates to the use of this composition for coating or printing, especially for printing, more especially for inkjet or offset printing processes, and most especially for an offset printing process. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of the photoalignment composition for the preparation of orientation layers for liquid crystals and in the construction of unstructured and structured optical elements and multi-layer systems, especially liquid crystal displays, LCDs.

Ink-jet printable compositions including nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains and a single solvent exhibiting a single evaporation rate and having a specifically defined viscosity and surface tension that result in uniform and printable alignment layers for liquid crystal materials. Patterned liquid crystal-containing cells are also disclosed including one or more layers including the same or different nanoparticles capped with a protective layer of hydrocarbon chains printed on a surface of a substrate or even another nanoparticle-containing layer. Methods for producing the cells are also disclosed, including the step of printing a pattern on one or more portions of a cell surface utilizing a composition comprising the capped nanoparticles. Devices including the cells are also disclosed.

A liquid crystal composition including: a polymerizable liquid crystal compound capable of expressing birefringence with inverse wavelength dispersion; a surfactant containing a fluorine atom; and a solvent, wherein the surfactant contains a fluorine atom at a ratio of 30% by weight or less in a molecule of the surfactant.