Manufacturing method of liquid crystal element, liquid crystal element, lighting apparatus, and vehicle lamp system

A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal element comprising:

• performing a first process of forming a first substrate having a first alignment film subjected to a first uniaxial alignment treatment;
• performing a second process of forming a second substrate having a second alignment film subjected to a second uniaxial alignment treatment;
• performing a third process of forming a liquid crystal layer between the first alignment film and the second alignment film using a liquid crystal material including a monomer which can be polymerized by light irradiation;
• and
• performing a fourth process of irradiating light on, from among a first region and a second region adjacent to each other in the liquid crystal layer in a plan view, the first region with no voltage applied or with a voltage less than a threshold value applied to the first region,
• wherein a concentration of the monomer in the liquid crystal material is equal to 0.3 wt % or greater.

A liquid crystal element comprising:

• a first substrate and a second substrate arranged to face each other;
• a first alignment film disposed on a side of the first substrate facing the second substrate;
• a second alignment film disposed on a side of the second substrate facing the first substrate;
• a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
• and
• a seal material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate surrounding the liquid crystal layer, and which has an injection port formed by partially opening the seal material;
• wherein the first alignment film and second alignment film are each subjected to a uniaxial alignment treatment, and each has an alignment regulating force in one direction on a surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer,
• wherein, at each of an interface between the first alignment film and the liquid crystal layer and an interface between the second alignment film and the liquid crystal layer, a monomer polymerizable by light irradiation or a polymer obtained by polymerizing the monomer is present,
• wherein the liquid crystal layer has a first region and a second region in a plan view, and
• wherein the first region has a pretilt angle in a direction opposite to the direction of the alignment regulating force, and the second region has a pretilt angle in the same direction as the direction of the alignment regulating force.