Light-modulating liquid-crystal element

A light-modulating liquid-crystal element, comprising two substrates each of which have an electrode layer and at least one of which is transparent and a light-modulating layer supported between these substrates, the light-modulating layer consisting essentially of a nematic liquid-crystal material and a transparent solid substance, the nematic liquid-crystal material containing one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (I) as component (a) and/or one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (II) as component (b), and one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (III) as component (c), the nematic liquid-crystal material being dispersed as independent microdroplets in the transparent solid substance, the microdroplets having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 50 μm:

• wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• A1 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene;
• wherein R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• A2 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene,
• X1 is a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and
• X2 is a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and an ether bond.

A light-modulating liquid-crystal element, comprising two substrates each of which have an electrode layer and at least one of which is transparent and a light-modulating layer supported between these substrates, the light-modulating layer being composed of a nematic liquid-crystal material and a transparent solid substance, the nematic liquid-crystal material containing one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (I) as component (a) and/or one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (II) as component (b), and one or more compounds selected from the compounds represented by the general formula (III) as component (c), the nematic liquid-crystal material being dispersed as independent microdroplets in the transparent solid substance, the microdroplets having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 50 μm:

• wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• A1 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene;
• wherein R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms,
• A2 is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene,
• X1 is a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• wherein R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and optionally an ether bond or an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and
• X2 is a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and an ether bond, wherein the nematic liquid-crystal material contains no compound with a partial structure represented by the following general formula (IV):
• wherein the benzene ring optionally has a plurality of substituents.