Process for vertical alignment of rod-like liquid crystal molecules

An optically anisotropic element comprising a transparent support and a liquid crystal layer containing rod-like liquid crystal molecules, wherein the rod-like liquid crystal molecules are aligned at an average inclined angle of 50 to 90°, and the liquid crystal layer further contains a compound represented by the formula (I) in an amount of 0.01 to 20 wt. % based on the amount of the liquid crystal molecules:

• (Hb—L1—Cy1—L2—)nCy2 (I)
• in which Hb is an aliphatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms or a siloxanoxy group substituted with an aliphatic group having 6 to 40 carbon atoms;
• L1 is a single bond or a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, a fluorine-substituted alkylene group, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —NR—, —SO2— and a combination thereof, wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms;
• Cy1 is a divalent aromatic group or a divalent heterocyclic group;
• L2 is a single bond or a divalent linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkynylene group, —O—, —S—, —CO—, —NR—, —SO2— and a combination thereof, wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms;
• n is 2, 3 or 4;
• and Cy2 is an n-valent aromatic group or an n-valent heterocyclic group.