Ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal device using same

Claim 2

A ferroelectric chiral smectic liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 - 18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent of Ci - C 1 2 alkoxy group; X 1 and X 2 respectively denote a single bond, -0-, at least one compound represented by the following formula (II): wherein R 3 and R 4 respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 - 18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X 3 and X 4 respectively denote a single bond, Z 1 denotes - -CH 2 0-, -OCH 2 - or a single bond; respectively denote denotes with proviso that at least one of at least one compound represented by the following formula (III): wherein Rs denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 - 18 carbon atoms capable of having a substituent; X 5 denotes a single bond, Z 2 denotes a single bond or - and m is 1 - 12.

Claim 3

A composition according to Claim 1, which further comprises a mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy.

Claim 4

A composition according to Claim 2, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δε of below -2.

Claim 5

A composition according to Claim 3, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δε of below -5.

Claim 6

A composition according to Claim 4, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy has a dielectric anisotropy Δε of below -10.

Claim 7

A composition according to Claim 2, wherein said mesomorphic compound having a negative dielectric anisotropy is a mesomorphic compound represented by any of the following formulas (IV-1) to (IV-5); Formula (IV-1): wherein Ra and Rb respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xa and Xd respectively denote a single bond, -0-, Xb and Xc respectively denote a single bond, Aa and Ab respectively denote a single bond, with proviso that when Aa and Ab are both single bonds, Xb and Xc are both single bonds, and Xa and Xd are both single bonds or -0-, or Xa is - and Xd is and Ya and Yb are respectively cyano group, halogen or hydrogen with proviso that Ya and Yb cannot be hydrogen simultaneously; Formula (IV-2). wherein Re and Rf respectively denote a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xe and Xh are respectively a single bond, Xf and Xg are respectively - a single bond; and Ae and Af are respectively or a single bond with proviso that Ae and Af cannot be a single bond simultaneously; Formula (IV-3): wherein Ai is a single bond or Aj is a single bond, Ri and Rj are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent with proviso that Ri and Rj are linear alkyl groups when Aj is a single bond; Z 3 is -0- or -S-; Xi and Xk are respectively a single bond, Xj is a single bond, - -CH 2 0- or -OCH 2 -with proviso that Xi is a single bond when Ai is a single bond, Xj is not a single bond when Aj is and Xk is a single bond when Aj is a single bond; Formula (IV-4). wherein RI and Rm are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; AI and Am are respectively a single bond, with proviso that AI and Am cannot be a single bond simultaneously; XI is a single bond, and Xm is a single bond, - -CH 2 0-, -OCH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 - or -C≡C-; Formula (IV-5): wherein Rn and Ro are respectively a linear or branched alkyl group capable of having a substituent; Xn and Xq are respectively a single bond, Xo and Xp are respectively a single bond, - -CH 2 0-, -OCH 2 - or -CH 2 CH 2 -; An and Ap are respectively a single bond, and Z 4 is -

Claim 8

A liquid crystal device, comprising a pair of electrode plates and a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition according to any one of Claims 1 - 6 disposed between the electrode plates.