IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,559,678
Granted Patent B2
US 12,559,678 · App. 18/220,062 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Liquid-crystal medium

Inventors: Sven Christian Laut (Darmstadt, DE); Hee-Kyu Lee (Shanghai, CN); Minghui Yang (Shanghai, CN); Harald Hirschmann (Darmstadt, DE); Kaja Christina Deing (Darmstadt, DE)
Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH
C09K19/3098C09K19/3003C09K19/3028C09K19/3068C09K19/542C09K19/586C09K2019/3004C09K2019/3036C09K2019/548
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,559,678
App. No.
18/220,062
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to liquid-crystal (LC) media as defined in claim 1 , to the use thereof for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in LC displays, and to LC displays containing said LC media. The invention in particular relates to LC media with improved response time that enable energy saving displays.

Claims (95)

1 . A liquid crystal medium comprising

a) one or more compounds of the formula I:

in which

R 1 and R 2 , identically or differently, denote H, straight chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 15 C atoms, straight chain alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 15 C atoms or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 3 to 15 C atoms, where one or more CH2 groups in these radicals may each be replaced, independently of one another, by

 C≡C—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by halogen,

Z 1 denotes —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C 2 H 4 —, —CH═CH—, —C═C— or a single bond,

L 1 and L 2 , each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, CF 3 or CHF 2 ,

Y denotes H, F, Cl, CF 3 , CHF 2 or CH 3 ;

b) one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae IID-7

in which alkyl on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and

(O) denotes O or a single bond; and

c) one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of III-2-1, III-2-2, III-2-3, III-2-4, III-2-5, III-2-6, III-2-7, III-2-8, III-2-9, and III-2-10, and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae III-3-1, III-3-2, III-3-4, III-3-5, and III-3-6

in which

alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms,

alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6° C. atoms,

alkoxy and alkoxy* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkoxy radical having 1-6 C atoms,

R 32 denotes ethyl, n-propyl, or n-butyl, and

L 31 and L 32 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, CF 3 or CHF 2 ;

wherein the medium has a negative dielectric anisotropy.

2 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more compounds of formula I are selected from the group of compounds of the formulae I-1 to I-17

in which

alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms,

alkenyl denotes a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2-6 C atoms, and cycloalkyl denotes a straight chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 10 C atoms in which a CH 2 group is replaced by

3 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IIA, IIB, IIC and IID, in which the compounds of formula IID are not of formula IID-7,

in which

R 2A , R 2B , R 2C and R 2D identically or differently, denote H, straight chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 15 C atoms, straight chain alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 15 C atoms or branched alkyl or alkoxy or alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 3 to 15 C atoms, where one or more CH 2 groups in these radicals may each be replaced, independently of one another, by

 —C≡C—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —O—, —CO—O—, or —O—CO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by halogen,

L 1 and L 2 each, independently of one another, denote F, Cl, CF 3 or CHF 2 ,

Y denotes H, F, Cl, CF 3 , CHF 2 or CH 3 ,

Z 2 , Z 2B and Z 2D each, independently of one another, denote a single bond, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —COO—, —OCO—, —C 2 F 4 —, —CF═CF— or —CH═CHCH 2 O—,

(O) denotes O or a single bond,

p denotes 0, 1 or 2,

q denotes 0 or 1, and

V denotes an integer from 1 to 6.

4 . The medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formula IID-1

in which alkyl on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and (O) denotes O or a single bond.

5 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium further comprises one or more compounds selected from formula III-1

in which the groups occurring have the meanings defined in claim 1 .

6 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 3 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of formula IIA and said one or more compounds of formula IIA are selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IIA-18, IIA-40 and IIA-42:

in which

alkyl on each occurrence, identically or differently, denotes a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1-6 C atoms, and

(O) denotes O or a single bond.

7 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of the formula IV

in which

R 41 denotes an unsubstituted alkyl radical having 1 to 7 C atoms or an unsubstituted alkenyl radical having 2 to 7 C atoms,

R 42 denotes an unsubstituted alkyl radical having 1 to 7 C atoms or an unsubstituted alkoxy radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, or an unsubstituted alkenyl radical having 2 to 7 C atoms.

8 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IV-1, IV-2, IV-3 and IV-4

in which

alkyl and alkyl′, independently of one another, denote alkyl having 1 to 7 C atoms, alkenyl and alkenyl′ independently of one another, denote an alkenyl radical having 2 to 5 C atoms, and

alkoxy denotes alkoxy having 1 to 5 C atoms.

9 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of the formula IVa,

in which

R 41 and R 42 each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl or alkoxy radical having up to 12 C atoms, and

 denotes

Z 4 denotes a single bond, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH 2 O—, -OCH 2 —, —COO—, —OCO—, —C 2 F 4 —, —C 4 H 8 —, or —CF═CF—.

10 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of the formula IVb-1 to IVb-3

in which

alkyl and alkyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, and

alkenyl and alkenyl* each, independently of one another, denote a straight-chain alkenyl radical having 2 to 6 C atoms.

11 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of the formula V

in which

R 51 , R 52 independently denote alkyl having 1 to 7 C atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 7 C atoms, or alkoxyalkyl, alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 7 C atoms,

 identically or differently, denote

Z 51 and Z 52 , identically or differently, denote-CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —O—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —COO- or a single bond, and

n is 1 or 2.

12 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 11 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formulae V-1 to V-16

in which R 51 and R 52 have the meanings defined in claim 11 .

13 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds of the formula VIII

in which

R 81 and R 82 , identically or differently, denote H, halogen, CN, SCN, straight chain alkyl or alkoxy having 1 to 15 C atoms, straight chain alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 2 to 15 C atoms or branched alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl or alkenyloxy having 3 to 15 C atoms, where one or more CH 2 groups in these radicals may each be replaced, independently of one another, by

 —C≡C—, —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —O—, —CO—O—, or —O—CO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by halogen,

A 0 , A 81 , and A 82 , each, independently of one another, denote phenylene-1,4-diyl, in which one or two CH groups may each be replaced by N and one or more H atoms may each be replaced by halogen, CN, CH 3 , CHF 2 , CH 2 F, CF 3 , OCH 3 , OCHF 2 or OCF 3 , cyclohexane-1,4-diyl, in which one or two non-adjacent CH 2 groups may each be replaced, independently of one another, by O or S and one or more H atoms may each be replaced by F, cyclohexene-1,4-diyl, bicyclo[1.1.1] pentane-1,3-diyl, bicyclo[2.2.2] octane-1,4-diyl, spiro [3.3] heptane-2,6-diyl, tetrahydropyran-2,5-diyl or 1,3-dioxane-2,5-diyl;

Z 81 and Z 82 , each, independently of one another, denote —CF 2 O—, —OCF 2 —, —CH 2 O—, —OCH 2 —, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —C 2 H 4 —, —C 2 F 4 , —CF 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CF 2 —, —CFHCFH—, —CFHCH 2 —, —CH 2 CFH—, —CF 2 CFH—, —CFHCF 2 —, —CH═CH—, —CF═CH—, —CH═CF—, —CF═CF—, —C═C— or a single bond;

n denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3, and

m denotes 0, 1, 2 or 3.

14 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formulae PI and PII

in which

R 2 and R 3 denote H, an alkyl or alkoxy radical having 1 to 12 C atoms, an alkenyl radical having 2 to 12 C atoms, where one or more CH 2 groups in these radicals are optionally replaced by

 —O—, —CO—O— or —O—CO— in such a way that O atoms are not linked directly to one another, and in which one or more H atoms may each be replaced by halogen;

 independently of one another denote

L 21 , L 22 ,

L 31 and L 32 independently of each other, denote H or F,

Y 2 and Y 3 identically or differently, denote H or CH 3 ,

X 2 and X 3 independently of each other, denote halogen, halogenated alkyl or halogenated alkoxy with 1 to 3 C-atoms or halogenated alkenyl or halogenated alkenyloxy with 2 or 3 C-atoms,

Z 3 denotes —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CF 2 CF 2 —, —COO—, trans- —CH═CH—, trans-CF═CF—, —CH 2 O— or a single bond, and

l, m, n and o are, independently of each other, 0 or 1.

15 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises at least one chiral dopant.

16 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one, two, three or more polymerizable compounds.

17 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises one, two, three or more stabilizers.

18 . A liquid crystal display comprising the liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 .

19 . The liquid crystal display of claim 18 , wherein the display is a VA, IPS, FFS, PS-VA, PS-IPS or PS-FFS type display.

20 . A method of generating an electro-optical effect comprising applying a voltage to a liquid crystal display according to claim 18 .

21 . A process of preparing a liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , comprising mixing one or more compounds of formula I with one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formula IID-7, one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of III-2-1, III-2-2, III-2-3, III-2-4, III-2-5, III-2-6, III-2-7, III-2-8, III-2-9, and III-2-10, and one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of formulae III-3-1, III-3-2, III-3-4, III-3-5, and III-3-6, and optionally with a polymerizable compound or a chiral dopant or a stabilizer or further liquid crystal compounds or additives.

22 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 1 , wherein the total concentration of compounds of formulae III-2-1, III-2-2, III-2-3, III-2-4, III-2-5, III-2-6, III-2-7, III-2-8, III-2-9, III-2-10, III-3-1, III-3-2, III-3-4, III-3-5, and III-3-6 is in the range of from 7% to 20%.

23 . The liquid crystal medium according to claim 3 , wherein the medium comprises one or more compounds selected from the group of compounds of the formulae IIB and IID.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: LAUT, SVEN CHRISTIAN; DEING, KAJA CHRISTINA
To: MERCK ELECTRONICS KGAA
Reel/Frame 065170/0940 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: LEE, HEE-KYU; YANG, MINGHUI
To: MERCK DISPLAY MATERIALS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065170/0978 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: HIRSCHMANN, HARALD
To: MERCK KGAA
Reel/Frame 065171/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: MERCK DISPLAY MATERIALS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
To: MERCK ELECTRONICS KGAA
Reel/Frame 065171/0092 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: MERCK KGAA
To: MERCK ELECTRONICS KGAA
Reel/Frame 065171/0150 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2023
From: MERCK ELECTRONICS KGAA
To: MERCK PATENT GMBH
Reel/Frame 065171/0210 →
Priority Claims (1)
WO PCT/CN2022/104920 · Jul 11, 2022 · international
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240067879A1 · Feb 29, 2024
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