A method for producing a cholesteric liquid crystal layer is a method that can produce a cholesteric liquid crystal layer whose reflection surface is not parallel to a substrate surface by a simple method. The method includes: a step 1 of forming a composition layer satisfying a condition 1, a condition 2, or a condition 3 on a substrate, using a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal compound; and a step 2 of subjecting the composition layer to a treatment for cholesterically aligning the liquid crystal compound in the composition layer to form a cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

An electrically controlled smart window, which includes two transparent plates arranged oppositely, a power supply component and an in-between light-adjusting area. Hereinto the light-adjusting area is divided into a matrix of light-adjusting units by pixel wall(s), and every units are closely arranged in a grid shape. To the power supply component, an electrode is connected with the pixel wall, and another is localized on the center of light-adjusting unit and did with the transparent plate. Both surface-charged liquid crystal polymer particles and conductive packing fluid are filled into the medium between the two transparent plates. According to the present disclosure, cholesteric liquid crystal polymer microparticles with specific reflection band and surface charges are used as basic reflectors, thereby achieving the significant advantages of being easy to manufacture, low cost, and stable performance, without causing interference to electromagnetic signals.

The present invention provides a compound having an excellent amount of change in HTP and an excellent HTP saturation rate during exposure, and a liquid crystal composition including the compound. The compound of the present invention is a compound represented by General Formula (A).

(Y).sub.n-G-(X).sub.m   (A)

G represents a group represented by General Formula (B-1) or a group represented by General Formula (B-2), * represents a bonding position, and X and Y represent a predetermined group.

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Provided is a viewing angle control polarizing plate that has asymmetric transmission characteristics, does not cause moire even in a case of being used in combination with a high-definition image display device, and is capable of easily following a curved surface and a viewing angle control system with high productivity. The viewing angle control system includes at least a first polarizer and an optically anisotropic layer, in which an absorption axis of the first polarizer forms an angle of 45° or greater with respect to an in-plane direction, and a main axis of a refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is tilted in the in-plane direction.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition with which a light absorption anisotropic film excellent in plane shape uniformity with a high alignment degree can be formed, a method of producing same, a light absorption anisotropic film, a laminate, and an image display device. The liquid crystal composition contains a high-molecular weight liquid crystal compound, and a dichroic substance, where the composition is a copolymer containing 90% by mass or more of a repeating unit (1) of Formula (1) and 10% by mass or less of a repeating unit (2) of Formula (2). In Formulae (1) and (2), P1 to P3 represent main chains, L1 to L3 represent a single bond or divalent linking group, P2 to SP3 represent a single bond or spacer group (SP1), M1 to M3 represent mesogenic groups, T1 represents a terminal group, and n and m are integers of 0 or 1. ##STR00001##

Provided are a liquid crystal diffraction element which exhibits low scattering and high sharpness of diffracted light, and a method for producing the same. A liquid crystal diffraction element having an alignment film which has a periodic pattern and also having a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, in which: the periodic pattern is imparted to the alignment film as a result of alignment elements having different tilt angles being periodically arranged in the alignment film or the alignment elements being arranged in a manner such that the azimuth direction thereof swings in one in-plane direction; the direction of the molecular axis of a liquid crystal compound changes while continuously rotating and in at least one in-plane direction on at least one main surface among the pair of main surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer; the molecular axis of the liquid crystal compound is tilted with respect to the main surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer; and an arrangement direction of bright portion and dark portion derived from the cholesteric liquid crystalline phase observed by a scanning electron microscope in a cross section perpendicular to the main surfaces is tilted with respect to the main surfaces of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

A liquid crystal emulsification method that can reduce formulation restriction and adjust the size of a dispersed phase with small variation in size of the dispersed phase, and a liquid crystal emulsion are provided. The liquid crystal emulsification method includes: adding a moisture content and/or an oil content at a predetermined ratio to a surfactant having an HLB falling within a predetermined range; and setting a temperature during formation of a dispersion or an emulsion to a predetermined temperature, to adjust a lamellar liquid crystal having a regular molecular arrangement in which the oil content and/or the moisture content are alternately arranged in a bilayer membrane formed from the surfactant.

The present invention provides an optical film having a liquid crystal layer having excellent durability, and a liquid crystal film. The optical film of the present invention has an organic base material and a liquid crystal layer disposed on the organic base material, the liquid crystal layer contains a photo-alignment compound, and in the liquid crystal layer, the photo-alignment compound is unevenly distributed on a side of the organic base material.

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 water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network, a preparation method and use thereof are provided. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network comprises an interpenetrating polymer network formed by a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer and a polyionic liquid; wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is formed by polymerization of a liquid crystal mixture; and the polyionic liquid contains a hydrophilic group or is a hydrophilic salt. The interpenetrating polymer network is water responsive without needs of activation with an alkaline solution, which simplifies the preparation process, and has stable water responsiveness performance after prolonged and/or repeated exposure to water. The water-responsive interpenetrating polymer network can be used to prepare light reflective coatings and reflective devices, and has higher commercial value.