Abstract: Clay minerals, composed of clay rock and soil of the main minerals, is a magnesium, aluminum-based hydrated silicate minerals.It is found that the clay mineral liquid crystal materials compared with organic liquid crystal, the former has the advantages of light, electricity, magnetic energy, good thermal stability, low price and so on.The current research status of clay mineral liquid crystal materials and their forming mechanism was introduced.The preparation methods of liquid crystal materials were reviewed on the studies of lamellar clay liquid crystals, fiber type clay liquid crystals, analogs of clay liquid crystals.Different effects, such as concentration, dispersing medium, external electric field, ionic strength and gravity etc.on the phase transition properties of the materials were discussed.The application and development of clay mineral liquid crystal materials were summarized as well.

Key words: mechanism of liquid crystal;clay mineral liquid crystal material;hybrid liquid crystal;dispersion system