A
liquid crystal smectic A composition which can be brought into a first
stable state (left hand block in Figure 4) and at least one second
stable state (Fig. 4), the composition is more disordered in at least one second
stable state than in the first state. The
radiation transfer properties of the first state and the second state are different. The composition comprises: (A) a
liquid crystal material having a positive
dielectric anisotropy and, when in a first state, a uniformly aligned smectic A structure; (B) an ionic
dopant, which is present in the
liquid crystal material Negative
conductivity anisotropy is provided in such that when subjected to an
electric field that causes the
dopant to migrate through the composition, the
dopant is capable of disrupting the smectic A structure of the first state, thereby causing the composition to switch to the at least one A second state, and (C) optically anisotropic
pigment particles, which have positive
dielectric anisotropy, are dispersed in the composition, and the
maximum size of the
pigment particles is in the range of 10 nm to 1 μm. The composition, when in a first, relatively
steady state, is capable of undergoing smectic dynamic scattering due to electrohydrodynamic
instability under the influence of a sufficiently
low frequency alternating
electric field, thereby disordering liquid
crystal and
pigment particles, and thereby preventing
Pigment particles clumped together. The composition is suitable for use in displays, and is especially resistant to degradation due to ambient light, and can therefore be used in outdoor applications.