Patent ID: 7097888

Claim:
A multilayer film comprising a substrate bearing an aligned, fixed liquid crystal layer wherein the aligned liquid crystal layer contains an azolium salt represented by formula (I): wherein the subscripts for X 2 and X 4 and for Z 3 and Z 5 represent the ring positions with N being the “1” position, and each X 2 and X 4 is independently N or C—R; each Z 3 and Z 5 is independently N, N—R, C—(R)(R), O, S, SO 2 , SO, C═O, C═S, or C═NR; each R group including R 1 bonded to the N at the “1” position is independently hydrogen or a substituent; and Y is a charge balancing anion, which may be a separate moiety or part of X 2 , Z 3 , X 4 , Z 5 , or R 1 ; provided two or more X 2 , Z 3 , X 4 , Z 5 , or R 1 groups optionally form a phenyl, naphthyl, pyrizinyl, pyridyl, quinolinyl, cyclohexenyl, oxazolyl, or pyrazolyl ring; provided the salt may be part of an oligomer or polymer.