NOVELTY - A liquid-crystal cell (100) consists of a pair of optical alignment films (1), and layer (2) containing ionic thermotropic columnar fluorine-containing liquid-crystal compound. When the liquid-crystal compound is cooled from the isotropic phase temperature range quickly to a temperature less than the isotropic phase temperature, a column-like structure in which the axis is homogeneously oriented is formed. When the liquid-crystal compound is cooled gradually, a column-like structure in which the axis is homeotropically aligned is formed.    USE - Liquid-crystal cell is used for batteries, capacitors, and dye-sensitized solar cells.    ADVANTAGE - The liquid-crystal cell is capable of conveying substances, such as ions, and controlling the moving direction of ions minutely.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A liquid-crystal cell consists of a pair of optical alignment films having optical orientation portion oriented in one direction, and layer containing ionic thermotropic columnar fluorine-containing liquid-crystal compound. The alignment films are arranged with a clearance gap such that the orientation direction of the orientation portion is parallel. The layer containing liquid-crystal compound is filled in the clearance gap. When the liquid-crystal compound is cooled from the isotropic phase temperature range quickly to a temperature less than the isotropic phase temperature, a column-like structure in which the axis is homogeneously oriented with respect to the optical alignment film is formed. When the liquid-crystal compound is cooled from the isotropic phase temperature range gradually to a temperature less than the isotropic phase temperature, a column-like structure in which the axis is homeotropically aligned with respect to the optical alignment film is formed. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for method for orienting ionic thermotropic columnar fluorine-containing liquid-crystal compound, which involves contacting the compound with a pair of optical alignment film, and cooling the compound from isotropic phase temperature range to a temperature less than the isotropic phase temperature.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a sectional view of the liquid-crystal cell.    Optical alignment films (1)    Layer containing liquid-crystal compound (2)    Sealing compound (3)    Spacer (4)    Liquid-crystal cell (100)