Liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device

Abstract

The subject is to provide a liquid crystal composition that satisfies at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance and a high stability to ultraviolet light or heat, or that is suitably balanced regarding at least two of the characteristics. The subject is to provide a AM device that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth. The invention provides a liquid crystal composition that has negative dielectric anisotropy, including a specific four-ring compound having a high maximum temperature and a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, a two-ring compound having a small viscosity as a second component, and optionally including a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a third component, a specific compound having small viscosity as a fourth component and a specific compound having a negatively large dielectric anisotropy as a fifth component. The invention provides also a liquid crystal display device containing this composition.