Optically anisotropic layer, method of manufacturing the same, laminate, method of manufacturing the same, polarizing plate, liquid crystal display device, and organic EL display

1. A laminate comprising an optically anisotropic layer and a uniaxial birefringence layer,

wherein

a polymerizable composition, containing one or more polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound showing a smectic phase, is fixed in a state of smectic phase in the optically anisotropic layer;

a direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 10° or smaller to the surface of said optically anisotropic layer;

the retardation values Re(450), Re(550) and Re(650) measured at 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm respectively of the optically anisotropic layer satisfy the formulae (2) and (3):

0.70≤Re(450)/Re(550)≤1.00, and  Formula (2)

0.99≤Re(650)/Re(550)≤1.30;  Formula (3)

the uniaxial birefringence layer has a refractive index in the thickness direction larger than the refractive index in the in-plane direction is formed on the surface of the optically anisotropic layer; and

the thickness retardation values Rth(450), Rth(550) and Rth(650) measured at 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm respectively of the birefringence layer satisfy the formulae (1) and (2) below:

0.70≤Rth(450)/Rth(550)≤1.00, and  Formula (1)

0.99≤Rth(650)/Rth(550)≤1.30.  Formula (2)

2. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the uniaxial birefringence layer is a positive C-plate.

3. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the uniaxial birefringence layer has Rth that satisfies −180≤Rth(550)≤−10.

4. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the uniaxial birefringence layer has Rth that satisfies −200≤Rth (550)≤−60.

5. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the optically anisotropic layer has a thickness d of 1000 to 5000 nm, Re(550) of 10 to 400 nm, Re(550)/d of 0.01 to 0.1 where both of d and Re(550) are given in nm, and a contrast of 100,000 or larger and 200,000 or smaller.

6. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound which remains unpolymerized in the optically anisotropic layer is 5% by mass or less.

7. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable rod-like liquid crystal compound has a molecular weight of 1300 or smaller.

8. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable composition further contains 1% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less of a polymerizable rod-like compound represented by the formula (2),

Q 3 -SP 3 -X 3 -M 3 -(Y 3 -L-Y 4 -M 4 ) m -X 4 -SP 4 -Q 4   Formula (2):

where,

m is an integer representing the number of repetition of (Y 3 -L-Y 4 -M 4 ) which is 0 or more, each of Q 3 and Q 4 represents a polymerizable group,

SP 3 and SP 4 represent a same group which is a straight-chain or branched alkylene group, or, a group composed of a combination of a straight-chain or branched alkylene group, with —O— and/or —C(═O)—, having 2 to 8 carbon atoms in total;

X 3 and X 4 represent a same group which is a single bond or oxygen atom;

-Y 3 -L-Y 4 - represents a straight-chain alkylene group, or, a group composed of a combination of straight-chain alkylene group with —O— and/or —C(═O)—, having 3 to 18 carbon atoms in total; and

each of M 3 and M 4 represents a group composed of two or more aromatic rings, and —O— and/or —C(═O)—.

9. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the optically anisotropic layer comprises a copolymer of fluoroaliphatic group-containing monomers as a tilt angle control agent.

10. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the direction of maximum refractive index of the optically anisotropic layer is inclined at 0° or larger and 3° or smaller to the surface of the optically anisotropic layer.

11. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the optically anisotropic layer is a uniaxial birefringence layer having the slow axis in the in-plane direction.

12. The laminate according to claim 11 , wherein retardation value Re(550) measured at 550 nm of the optically anisotropic layer satisfies the formula (1):

100≤Re(550)≤180 nm.  Formula (1)

13. The laminate according to claim 1 , wherein the optically anisotropic layer is formed on the surface of a photo-aligned film.

14. The laminate according to claim 13 which further comprises:

a linear polarizer,

wherein the photo-aligned film is provided over the surface of the linear polarizer.

15. A liquid crystal display device comprising the laminate of claim 1 .

16. The liquid crystal display device of claim 15 , which is an IPS-mode device.

17. An organic EL display device comprising the optically anisotropic layer of claim 1 .