We prepared liquid-crystalline (LC) physical gels by the fibrous aggregation of hydrogen-bonded molecules in liquid crystals. The cover picture shows the hierarchical phase-segregated structure of the LC physical gels. The LC components in the gels are shown to be responsive to external electric fields. The LC gels have great potentials as functional soft materials.
  Currently we are developing new display materials exhibiting faster responses and high contrast with controlled phase-segregated structures of nematic LC physical gels. Enhanced photoconductivities have also been observed for discotic LC gels.