JP2009163082A - Liquid crystal element - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal element for securing high gas barrier property at a side face part of the liquid crystal element. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal element includes a reflecting film 22 (an inorganic gas barrier layer) formed on the whole surface on the liquid crystal layer 6 side of an upper substrate 1; an extended part 7 of the upper substrate 1 extended from the periphery of a lower substrate 3; and a gas barrier member 24 applied to cover the side face of the lower substrate 3, the side face of a seal 2 and the liquid crystal layer side surface of the extended part 7. Since the gas barrier member 24 is applied using the extended part 7 as a base, the gas barrier member 24 becomes thick to improve gas barrier property. Since the reflecting film 22 serves as both a gas barrier layer and a common electrode, a manufacturing process is simplified. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal element using a gas permeable substrate.

  A liquid crystal element using a plastic substrate has been put to practical use as a display panel for a mobile phone by taking advantage of its light weight and thin properties. Recently, features such as being hard to break, being bent, and having a high degree of freedom in planar shape have been attracting attention, and various application products have been proposed.

  A liquid crystal element using a plastic substrate has basically the same structure as a liquid crystal element using a glass substrate that has been widely used. A general structure of the liquid crystal element will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view (a) and a sectional view (b) of a general liquid crystal element. (A) shows a state in which the seal 62 and the upper substrate 61 are laminated on the lower substrate 63. The lower substrate 63 has a connection portion 64 extending to the upper substrate 61, and a connection electrode 65 is formed on the surface of the connection portion 64. FIG. 5B shows a state in which liquid crystal is sealed in a region surrounded by the upper and lower substrates 61 and 63 and the seal 62. Drive electrodes (not shown) are formed on the surfaces (hereinafter referred to as inner surfaces) of the upper and lower substrates 61 and 63 in contact with the liquid crystal layer 66, and each drive electrode is connected to the connection electrode 65. When the liquid crystal element is a TN (twisted nematic) liquid crystal that utilizes the optical rotation of the liquid crystal layer 66, a polarizing plate is attached to the outer surfaces (hereinafter referred to as outer surfaces) of the upper and lower substrates 61 and 63. When the liquid crystal element is an STN (super twisted nematic) liquid crystal using the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer 66, a retardation plate is added between the outer surfaces of the substrates 61 and 63 and the polarizing plate. Further, no polarizing plate is required even if the liquid crystal layer 66 is a scattering type.

  However, when the upper and lower substrates 61 and 63 are made of a plastic material, various problems that are not glass materials appear. Among them, a particularly serious problem is that air (hereinafter referred to as gas) enters the liquid crystal layer through the plastic substrate and bubbles are generated in the liquid crystal layer. That is, unlike glass materials, plastic materials have gas permeability, so that gas permeates at normal temperature and pressure. If a liquid crystal element is formed with the substrates 61 and 63 made of pure plastic material, the gas gradually dissolves into the liquid crystal layer 66 through the substrates 61 and 63, and the gas dissolved in the liquid crystal layer 66 reaches a saturated state. Bubbles are generated in the liquid crystal layer 66 due to impact such as dropping.

  Therefore, until now, immediately before injecting liquid crystal into the liquid crystal element, vacuum defoaming of the liquid crystal layer 66 and vacuum firing of the substrates 61 and 63 are performed to reduce the gas concentration of the liquid crystal and the substrates 61 and 63, and in advance together with this, By preventing the gas from entering the liquid crystal layer 66 with the gas barrier layer provided on the surfaces of the substrates 61 and 63, the gas concentration of the liquid crystal layer 66 is kept low to avoid the generation of bubbles. The gas barrier layer may be an organic substance or an inorganic part, but it is generally known that an inorganic substance such as a metal or a metal oxide has an extremely high gas barrier property compared to the organic substance.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid crystal element using an Al (aluminum) film as a gas barrier layer. FIG. 4 (Example 2) of Document 1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal element disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the liquid crystal element, a lower substrate 712, a liquid crystal layer 76, an upper substrate 711, and a polarizing plate 71 are stacked, and seals 77 adhere the upper and lower substrates 711 and 712 on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal layer 76. In the lower substrate 712, a substrate support 710, an Al film 79, and a hard coat layer 78 are laminated from below. On the upper substrate 711, a hard coat layer 75, a substrate support material 74, a gas barrier layer 73, and a hard coat layer 72 are laminated from the bottom. The substrate supporting members 74 and 710 are polycarbonate having a thickness of 100 μm. The hard coat layers 72, 75, and 78 are epoxy acrylate resins having a thickness of 2 μm. The Al film 79 has a thickness of 100 nm and serves as both a gas barrier layer and a reflective layer. The gas barrier layer 73 of the upper substrate 711 has a thickness of 50 nm of SiO.
2. The liquid crystal layer 76 is a guest-host liquid crystal. The drive electrode is not shown. In addition, it is stated that the structure of the liquid crystal element is simplified because the Al film 79 is also used for the gas barrier layer and the reflective layer.

  However, even if the liquid crystal element as in Patent Document 1 can prevent gas from entering the liquid crystal layer from the substrate surface, there is no gas barrier material on the cut surface of the substrate 711 or the side surface of the seal 77. Gas enters the liquid crystal layer 76. If the gas concentration of the liquid crystal layer 76 exceeds the saturation point, bubbles are generated.

  As a countermeasure, Patent Document 2 discloses that a member having a gas barrier property (hereinafter referred to as a gas barrier member) is applied to the cut surface (side surface) of the substrate. The gas intrusion countermeasure adopted by Document 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal element of Example 1 of Patent Document 2.

  First, the structure of the liquid crystal element will be described. In this liquid crystal element, a reflector 88, a lower polarizing plate 87, a liquid crystal element, and an upper polarizing plate 87 are stacked from the lower side of the figure. The liquid crystal element includes a lower plastic substrate 81, a lower transparent electrode 82, a lower alignment film 83, a liquid crystal layer 86 mixed with a spacer 84, an upper alignment film 83, an upper transparent electrode 82, and an upper plastic substrate. 81 are laminated, and upper and lower plastic substrates 81 are bonded by seals 85 at both ends. And the epoxy adhesive 89 (gas barrier member) for a gas penetration countermeasure is apply | coated to the side surface of a liquid crystal element.

Next, countermeasures against gas intrusion of the liquid crystal element will be described. The plastic substrate 81 uses a polycarbonate film as a substrate support material, and has two gas barrier layers made of EVA (copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate) and phenoxy resin on both sides. This gas barrier layer prevents gas from entering the liquid crystal layer 86 from the substrate surface. The epoxy adhesive 89 on the side surface of the liquid crystal element prevents gas from entering the liquid crystal layer through the cut surface of the plastic substrate 81 and the seal 85. Reference 2 also shows an example in which an epoxy adhesive is applied to the side surface of the liquid crystal element including the side surface of the polarizing plate after the polarizing plate is attached as Example 2.
JP 2000-2221496 A JP 2001-221998 A

  In an accelerated test conducted by the present inventors, a liquid crystal element having a gas barrier layer on the substrate surface but not having a gas barrier function on the side surface as in Patent Document 1, the gas is liquid crystal in a period corresponding to 1 to 2 years. Bubbles were generated by entering the layer. Therefore, as in Patent Document 2, a resin having a gas barrier property was applied to the side surface of the liquid crystal element, but the period until bubble generation (hereinafter referred to as life) was not stable. Microscopic observation of the prototype revealed that the application of the gas barrier member was uneven on the side surface of the liquid crystal element, the cut surface was rough, and the gas barrier layer near the cut surface was broken. It was also found that the resin gas barrier member simply applied to the side surface of the liquid crystal element lacks the gas barrier property for the expected life.

Here, experimental results will be described. Since the plastic film used in the trial production was 0.1 mm in thickness, the thickness of the liquid crystal element was 0.2 mm. When applying a gas barrier member having a sufficient thickness on the side surface of the liquid crystal element, the gas barrier member needs to have high viscosity. However, when the viscosity is high, the coating property deteriorates and a situation occurs in which a part of the side surface of the substrate comes into contact with the atmosphere. Problems different from applicability include streaking of the cut surface and cracking of the gas barrier layer on the substrate surface in the vicinity of the cut surface. The stripe on the cut surface was obtained by cutting the liquid crystal element with a Thomson blade, and the depth was about 1 μm. The cracking of the gas barrier layer is a crack which is caused when the inorganic gas barrier layer that is hard and brittle extends when the plastic substrate is pulled during cutting.
In order to satisfy both the conditions that the streaks and cracks are completely applied while being completely filled, the viscosity of the gas barrier material is adjusted with a solution, and the thickness of the gas barrier member on the side surface of the liquid crystal element is set to about 5 to 10 μm to achieve the object. However, the gas barrier property by the resin gas barrier member having such a thickness is not satisfactory.

  Therefore, an attempt was made to solve the above-mentioned problems by increasing the thickness of the gas barrier member, and the gas barrier member was applied to the side surface of the liquid crystal element on which the polarizing plate was attached with reference to the structure of Example 2 of Patent Document 2. Each polarizing plate had a thickness of 0.1 mm, and the thickness of the side surface of the liquid crystal element including the polarizing plate became 0.4 mm. Therefore, the thickness of the gas barrier member applied to the side surface of the liquid crystal element also increased. However, when this sample was subjected to a long-term reliability test, gas was ejected from the adhesive layer to which the polarizing plate and the plastic substrate were attached, and the life of the liquid crystal element was shortened.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal element that can ensure high gas barrier properties at the side surface of the liquid crystal element.

  The present invention includes a liquid crystal layer in a region surrounded by opposing first and second flexible substrates and a seal, and is provided on the first flexible substrate and extends from the second flexible substrate. An inorganic gas barrier layer formed on the surface of the extended portion of the first flexible substrate on the liquid crystal layer side, a side surface of the second flexible substrate, an outer surface of the seal, and an inorganic gas barrier of the extended portion And a gas barrier member arranged so as to cover the layer.

  The inorganic gas barrier layer may be integrally formed from the liquid crystal layer to the extending portion.

  The inorganic gas barrier layer may be formed on the entire surface of the first flexible substrate.

  The gas barrier member is preferably applied also to the surface near the side surface of the other substrate.

  The gas barrier layer may be a reflective film, a transparent electrode film, or a metal foil.

  In this case, the gas barrier layer may be a common electrode.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further include an inorganic gas barrier layer that covers the outer surface of the gas barrier member.

  According to the present invention, since the gas barrier member is applied so that the side surface and the seal side surface of the other substrate are covered with the extended portion obtained by extending one substrate from the periphery of the other substrate as a base, The amount of gas barrier member applied to the side of the liquid crystal element increases, and the gas barrier member becomes thicker. As a result, a high gas barrier property can be secured on the side surface of the liquid crystal element.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.
(First embodiment)

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view (a) and a cross-sectional view (b) of the liquid crystal element of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the liquid crystal element of the first embodiment.

  First, the outline of the liquid crystal element of this example will be described with reference to FIG. 1 (common to the second to fourth embodiments). (A) shows a state in which the seal 2 and the upper substrate 1 (one substrate) are stacked on the lower substrate 3 (the other substrate). The lower substrate 3 has a connection portion 4 extending to the upper substrate 1, and a connection electrode 5 is formed on the surface of the connection portion 4. On each side of the upper substrate 1 excluding the connection portion 4 side, there is an extending portion 7 extending from the lower substrate 3. FIG. 5B shows a state in which liquid crystal is sealed in a region surrounded by the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3 and the seal 2. Drive electrodes (not shown) are formed on the inner surfaces of the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3 in contact with the liquid crystal layer 6, and each drive electrode is connected to the connection electrode 5. In the present embodiment (and the fourth embodiment), the lower substrate 3 side is the viewing side.

  The side part of the liquid crystal element will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the member configuration will be described. In the display area on the left side of the figure, the lower substrate 3, the signal electrode 23, the liquid crystal layer 6, and the upper substrate 1 having the reflective film (inorganic gas barrier layer) 22 on the lower surface of the substrate support 21 are laminated from the bottom of the figure. is doing. In the right side surface of the figure, the reflective film 22 formed on the lower surface of the extension 7 of the upper substrate 1, the side surface of the seal 2, the cut surface (side surface) of the lower substrate 3, and the lower substrate 3 A gas barrier member 24 is applied so as to cover a part of the lower surface. Further, an inorganic gas barrier layer 25 is formed on the outer surface of the gas barrier member 24.

  Next, each member will be described. In the upper substrate 1, a reflective film 22 made of Al is formed over the entire lower surface of the substrate support material 21 made of polycarbonate having a thickness of 0.1 mm. The reflective film 22 has a thickness of 0.1 μm and is formed on the substrate support 21 by a sputtering method. The liquid crystal layer 6 is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal that is in a scattering mode when no voltage is applied and in a transmission mode when a voltage is applied. The lower substrate 3 has an undercoat layer (not shown), an organic gas barrier layer (not shown), an inorganic gas barrier layer (not shown), and a solvent-resistant coat layer (not shown) laminated on the outside. Is formed with a signal electrode 23 made of ITO and has a thickness of 0.1 mm as a whole. The signal electrode is obtained by patterning an ITO film by a photolithography method, has a thickness of 0.03 μm, and is thin so that even if the liquid crystal element is bent, it is not easily broken. The seal 2 and the gas barrier member 24 are an epoxy adhesive. The inorganic gas barrier layer 25 is silicon dioxide formed by a sputtering method and having a thickness of 0.1 μm.

  Next, the gas barrier property of the side surface portion of the liquid crystal element will be described. Gases that enter the liquid crystal layer 6 from the surfaces of the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3 are blocked by the reflective film 22 and the inorganic gas barrier layer provided outside the lower substrate 3, respectively. An inorganic gas barrier layer made of a metal or metal oxide has a high gas barrier property with a thickness of 0.01 μm or more, but the gas barrier property is particularly high because the reflective film 22 is as thick as 0.1 μm.

  In the side surface portion of the liquid crystal element, the gas barrier member 24 is in close contact with the cut surface so as to fit into the streaks of the cut surface generated during cutting. Similarly, the gas barrier member 24 is in close contact with the lower surface of the lower substrate 3 so as to fit into the crack of the inorganic gas barrier layer in the vicinity of the cut surface generated at the time of cutting. In addition, since the width of the extended portion 7 of the upper substrate 1 is set to 0.5 mm, the thickness of the gas barrier member 24 in the lateral direction can be set to about 100 μm or more. As described above, due to the good adhesion situation and the increased thickness of the gas barrier member 24, it was possible to secure a high barrier property against the gas that tries to enter the liquid crystal layer 6 from the side surface of the lower substrate 3 or the seal 2. Furthermore, since the inorganic gas barrier layer 25 is provided on the outer surface of the gas barrier member 24, all the intrusion paths of the gas into the liquid crystal layer 6 are blocked, and the gas barrier property is further improved.

Next, a method for driving the liquid crystal element will be described. The reflective film 22 was used as a common electrode, and a general static driving method was adopted. A region where the signal electrode 23 (also referred to as a segment electrode) and the reflective film 22 (common electrode) overlap in a plane is a pixel. Signal electrode 23 and reflective film 22 (
When the common electrode) is set to the same potential, no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the signal electrode 23 and the reflective film 22 (common electrode), and the liquid crystal layer becomes cloudy. When a voltage sufficiently higher than the threshold voltage of the liquid crystal is applied between the signal electrode 23 and the reflective film 22 (common electrode), the pixel becomes transparent.

  Finally, the side processing of the substrates 1 and 3 in the connection part of FIG. 1 will be described. In order to connect the external circuit (not shown) and the liquid crystal element, an FPC (not shown, flexible printed circuit) is attached to the connection portion 4. The FPC wiring and the connection electrode 5 are planarly overlapped, and the FPC is thermocompression bonded with an anisotropic conductive film (also referred to as ACF or anisotropy conductive film) sandwiched between the FPC and the connection electrode 5. The conductive particles in the ACF conduct the FPC wiring and the connection electrode. A protective member that serves as protection of the connection electrode 5 exposed at the connection portion, gas barrier on the cut surface of the upper substrate 1, and reinforcement of FPC adhesion, and covers the FPC end portion, the exposed connection electrode and the cut surface of the upper substrate. Apply (not shown).

  As in the present embodiment, the gas barrier layer is used as the reflective layer and the common electrode, so that an effect of high convenience can be obtained while having a simple substrate structure. Further, by using a reflective layer as the gas barrier layer, it is not necessary to add a new film forming process, so that it is possible to minimize the increase in the process while ensuring a high gas barrier property on the side surface of the liquid crystal element.

  According to the liquid crystal element of the present embodiment as described above, the inorganic gas barrier layer 25 made of an inorganic material having excellent gas barrier properties is formed over the entire inner surface side of one substrate. The gas that tries to enter through is blocked at a high level.

  In addition to this, the gas barrier member 24 is applied so that the side surface of the other substrate and the side surface of the seal are covered with the extended portion 7 that extends one substrate from the periphery of the other substrate as a base. As a result, the amount of the gas barrier member 24 applied to the side of the liquid crystal element increases, and as a result, the gas barrier member 24 becomes thick. As a result, a high gas barrier property can be secured on the side surface of the liquid crystal element.

In addition, the gas barrier layer on the surface of the substrate near the cutting part breaks when the liquid crystal element is cut from the mother substrate during manufacturing. If a gas barrier member is also applied to this part, gas intrusion from this cracking is prevented. Therefore, the gas barrier property of the side part of the liquid crystal element can be further improved.
(Second Embodiment)

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the liquid crystal element of the second embodiment.

3 is different from the first embodiment of FIG. 2 in that the reflective layer 22 of FIG. The transparent electrode is made of ITO and is known to have a high gas barrier property. The transparent electrode is formed over the entire lower surface of the upper substrate 1 and is used as a common electrode. This liquid crystal element can be used as a transmissive display body, and can also be used as a reflective display body by attaching a reflector on the outside of either one of the upper and lower substrates 1 and 3.
(Third embodiment)

  A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the liquid crystal element of the third embodiment.

4 is different from the first embodiment in FIG. 2 in that the reflective layer 22 in FIG. 2 is replaced with the silicon dioxide film 41 and the common electrode 42 is formed in the liquid crystal layer. As described above, the silicon dioxide film 41 is known to have high gas barrier properties, and is formed over the entire lower surface of the upper substrate 1. Since the common electrode 42 can be patterned, multiplex driving is possible. Similar to the second embodiment, the liquid crystal element can be used as a transmissive display or a reflective display. Even if a thin film such as a hard coat layer is provided on the silicon dioxide layer 41, the effect is the same.

Also in this embodiment, by using a transparent electrode as a gas barrier layer, it is not necessary to add a new film forming process, so that an increase in the process can be minimized while ensuring a high gas barrier property on the side surface of the liquid crystal element. It becomes possible.
(Fourth embodiment)

  A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part of the liquid crystal element of the fourth embodiment.

  5 differs from the first embodiment in FIG. 2 in that the reflective layer 22 in FIG. 2 is replaced with an Al foil (metal foil) 51 and that the adhesive layer 52 is interposed between the substrate support 21 and the Al foil 51. Is that there is. Since the Al foil 51 has a thickness of about 10 μm, the gas barrier property is remarkably high, and it is also used as a common electrode and a reflector. Since the Al foil is pasted on the substrate support material 21, a general sputtering process is not necessary as a thin film forming method. In addition, since the Al layer 51 is thick, a material that easily generates gas or has poor moisture resistance can be used. Moreover, even if the surface accuracy of the substrate support material is somewhat poor, the flatness of the Al foil 51 can be secured by lowering the viscosity of the adhesive layer 52. As described above, in the present embodiment in which the Al foil 51 is attached to the substrate support material 21 as a gas barrier layer, the plastic material itself and the conditions for the surface treatment are relaxed, so the selectivity of the substrate support material is wide.

  In the first to third embodiments, an Al film, an ITO film, and a silicon dioxide film are cited as the inorganic gas barrier layer formed over the entire surface of the one substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. Silicon nitride, DLC (diamond-like carbon), or other metals may be substituted.

  In addition, the inorganic gas barrier layer is formed over the entire surface of the one substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. However, if gas intrusion is reduced, the inorganic gas barrier layer is formed on a part of the substrate surface. May be.

  Further, the same effect can be obtained even if another inorganic gas barrier layer is further laminated on the inorganic gas barrier layer in the extending portion. When an insulating inorganic gas barrier layer such as a silicon dioxide film is provided on the entire surface of one substrate, a signal electrode (or a segment electrode) can be formed on one substrate.

In the present invention, the substrate side surface and the seal side surface need to be covered with the gas barrier member, but the extended portion does not need to be completely covered with the gas barrier member up to the end portion. In the structure of the present invention, since there is no member such as an adhesive layer that may generate gas in the region covered with the gas barrier member, the reliability is high. When the liquid crystal layer is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, the liquid crystal dropping method is preferable to the vacuum injection method in order to prevent the liquid crystal from entering the extending portion and curing. Other optical members such as a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, a reflecting plate, and an ultraviolet cut film are added to the liquid crystal element of the present invention composed of upper and lower substrates, a seal, a gas barrier member, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conventional common liquid crystal element. It is sectional drawing of the prior art example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the prior art example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 61, 711, 81 Upper substrate (one substrate)
2, 62, 77, 85 Seal 3, 63, 712 Lower substrate (the other substrate)
4, 64 Connection portion 5, 65 Connection electrode 6, 66, 76, 86 Liquid crystal layer 7 Extension portion 21, 74, 710 Substrate support material 22, 79 Reflection layer (gas barrier layer)
23 Signal electrodes 24 and 89 Gas barrier member 25 Inorganic gas barrier layer 31 covering the gas barrier member Transparent electrode film (gas barrier layer)
41 Silicon dioxide film (gas barrier layer)
42 Common electrode 51 Al foil (metal foil gas barrier layer)
52 Adhesive layers 71, 87 Polarizing plates 72, 75, 78 Hard coat layer 73 Gas barrier layer 82 Transparent electrode 83 Alignment film 84 Spacer 88 Reflector

Claims (9)

A liquid crystal layer in a region surrounded by the opposing first and second flexible substrates and the seal;
An extension portion provided on the first flexible substrate and extending from the second flexible substrate;
An inorganic gas barrier layer formed on a surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the extending portion of the first flexible substrate;
A gas barrier member disposed so as to cover a side surface of the second flexible substrate, an outer surface of the seal, and the inorganic gas barrier layer of the extending portion;
A liquid crystal element comprising:   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic gas barrier layer is integrally formed from the liquid crystal layer to the extension portion.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the inorganic gas barrier layer is formed on the entire surface of the first flexible substrate.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier member is also applied to a surface near a side surface of the other substrate.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier layer is a reflective film.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier layer is a transparent electrode film.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier layer is a metal foil.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 5, wherein the gas barrier layer is a common electrode.   The liquid crystal element according to claim 1, further comprising an inorganic gas barrier layer that covers an outer surface of the gas barrier member.

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