To provide a nanosheet liquid crystal of niobium oxide, having orientation arranged in an order of several cm3 or more in a still standing state (under gravitational field) within a wide range of concentration; and to provide a method for producing the nanosheet liquid crystal.

Potassium carbonate and the niobium oxide in a molar ratio of 2.1:3.0 are mixed, pulverized and put in a container, and fired at 1,100°C for 10 hr in an electric furnace to provide K4Nb6O17. The K4Nb6O17 is soaked in an aqueous solution of propylammonium chloride in an excess amount based on the amount of the K4Nb6O17, and heated in a pressure-resistant container at 120°C for one week. The product after finishing the reaction is subjected to a centrifugal separation at 4,000 rpm for 30 min, and the supernatant is removed. The precipitate is washed with water twice, and subjected to the centrifugal separation again. Water is added to the resultant precipitate in an amount of 100 mL per g of the starting K4Nb6P17 and the resultant mixture is shaken well so as to be dispersed.