TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Compound: The mesomorphic compound is of formula (1), R1-Xm-A-Tn-R2.Z = 0-4.A = mesomorphic mesogen group of formula, A1-B1-A2-B2-A3-B3-A4-B4-A5-B5-A6; group of formula (1a)-(1j);A1-A3 = 1,4-phenylene optionally having at least one CH replaced by CF or N, or 1,4-cyclohexylene;A4-A6 = single bond, 1,4-phenylene optionally having at least one CH replaced by CF or N, or 1,4-cyclohexylene;B1-B5 = single bond, -CH2O-, -OCH2-, -COO-, or -OOC-;X = -CH2CH2O- or -CH(CH3)CH2O-;Y = -OCH2CH2- pr -OCH2CH(CH3)-;R1 and R2 = 1-100C alkyl optionally having at least one -CH2- replaced by -O-, -CO-, -S-, -CH=CH-, -C(CH3)=CH-, -CH=C(CH3)-, -Cequivalent toC-, or epoxy group and optionally having at least one H atom replaced by fluorine atom;m and n = 3-25.Preferred Properties: The mesomorphic compound or electrolyte exhibits smectic phase. The electrolyte has been solidified through polymerization and exhibits an ionic conductivity anisotropy. Preferred Components: The metal salt is an alkali metal salt. The electrolyte further comprises an organic solvent.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Compound: The mesomorphic compound is a polymeric mesomorphic compound comprising a polymer obtained through polymerization of a monomer having a partial structure comprising a mesomorphic mesogen group and two divalent groups each connected to the mesogen group. The monomer is of formula (1'), R1-Xm-A-Tn-R2. The polymer is of formula (2'), R11-Xm-A-Yn-R2; formula (3'), R1-Xm-A-Yn-R12; or formula (4'), R11-Xm-A-Yn-R12.-(P)s-R3- (2a)-R4-(Q)t- (2b)A, X, Y, R1, R2, m, and n = have meanings as defined;R11 = group of formula (2a);R12 = group of formula (2b);s and t = 2-10000;R3 and R4 = 1-100C alkylene optionally having at least one -CH2- replaced by -O-, -CO-, or -S- and optionally having at least one H atom replaced by F atom; P including a group of formula (2c)-(2e); or Q including a group of formula (2f)-(2h)-(CH2-CH)- (2c)-(CH2-C(CH3))- (2d)-(O-CH-CH2)- (2e)-(CH2-CH)- (2f)-(CH2-C(CH3))- (2g)-(O-CH-CH2)- (2h) EXAMPLE - 2 g 4'-(methyloxytri(ethyleneoxy)ethyloxy)-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid, 1.9 g 4'-(methyloxytri(ethyleneoxy)ethyloxy)-4-hydroxybiphenyl, 0.8 g 1,3-dicyclocarbodiimide, 0.6 g 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and 20 ml dry chloroform were placed in a flask, and stirred. After the reaction, water was added, followed by extraction with chloroform. The organic layer was dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the solvent was distilled-off under reduced pressure, followed by purification and recrystallization from acetone to obtain 2.9 g 4-(methyloxytri (ethyleneoxy)ethyloxy)-4'-biphenyl4'-(methyloxytri(ethyleneoxy)ethyloxy)-4-biphenyl-carboxylate in the form of a white solid (75.2% yield). To 50 mg of this compound, 4 ml dry chloroform was added and stirred. 1 ml tetrahydrofuran solution of 4.09 mg lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate was added, followed by stirring for 2 hours. The solvent was gradually distilled off under reduced pressure and the resultant mixture was dried to prepare a liquid crystal electrolyte having an ionic conductivity of 1.2 x 10-4 S/cm (X direction) and 3.3 x 10-4 S/cm (Y direction) at 120 degreesC. A uniform homogeneous alignment state of the smectic A phase was confirmed.