Electrophotographic photoreceptor and electrophotographic imaging apparatus employing the photoreceptor

Abstract

An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a photosensitive layer which includes a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having a major absorption peak at a wavelength of 780 nm±10 nm and a minor absorption peak having an intensity of ¾ or less of the major absorption peak at 690 nm±10 nm in the visible-infrared absorption spectrum and a distyryl compound having a predetermined structure. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing the electrophotographic photoreceptor is also provided. The electrophotographic photoreceptor and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus have good photosensitivity and charging properties and good stability over repeated charging obtained by using an optimum combination of a new crystal type of a highly photosensitive titanyl phthalocyanine and a distyryl compound which is a charge transporting material that is compatible with the titanyl phthalocyanine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic photoreceptor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a visible-infrared absorption spectrum of a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal obtained in Manufacturing Example 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an X-ray diffraction spectrum of a titanyl phthalocyanine obtained in Manufacturing Example 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a visible-infrared absorption spectrum of a Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine crystal used in Comparative Example 1; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an X-ray diffraction spectrum of a Y-type titanyl phthalocyanine crystal used in Comparative Example 1.

Claims

1. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electrically conductive substrate; anda photosensitive layer formed on the electrically conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having a major absorption peak at a wavelength of 780 nm±10 nm and a minor absorption peak having an intensity of ¾ or less of the major absorption peak at 690 nm±10 nm in the visible-infrared absorption spectrum and a distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 below:

2. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer is a single-layered type photosensitive layer having a charge generating function and a charge transporting function at the same time.

3. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer is a laminated type photosensitive layer comprising a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer, and the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is included in the charge generating layer, and the distyryl compound is included in the charge transporting layer.

4. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal does not have an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm or greater.

5. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal has a distinct peak at a Bragg angle (2θ) of 9.2°, 14.5°, 18.1°, 24.1°, and 27.3° (all may include an error of ±0.2°) in an X-ray diffraction spectrum.

6. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is obtained by kneading a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm in a visible-infrared absorption spectrum using an alcoholic solvent.

7. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 1, wherein the distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

8. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus comprising: an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electrically conductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer formed on the electrically conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having a major absorption peak at a wavelength of 780 nm±10 nm and a minor absorption peak having an intensity of ¾ or less of the major absorption peak at 690 nm±10 nm in the visible-infrared absorption spectrum, and a distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 below:

9. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the photosensitive layer is a single-layered type photosensitive layer having a charge generating function and a charge transporting function at the same time.

10. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the photosensitive layer is a laminated type photosensitive layer comprising a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer, and the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is included in the charge generating layer and the distyryl compound is included in the charge transporting layer.

11. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal does not have an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm or greater.

12. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal has a distinct peak at a Bragg angle (2θ) of 9.2°, 14.5°, 18.1°, 24.1°, and 27.3° (all may include an error of ±0.2°) in an X-ray diffraction spectrum.

13. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is obtained by kneading a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm in a visible-infrared absorption spectrum using an alcoholic solvent.

14. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus of claim 8, wherein the distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 is selected from the group consisting of:

15. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: an electrically conductive substrate; anda photosensitive layer formed on the electrically conductive substrate, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal and a distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 below:

16. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein said titanyl phthalocyanine crystal has a major absorption peak at a wavelength of 780 nm±10 nm in the visible-infrared absorption spectrum.

17. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 16, wherein said titanyl phthalocyanine crystal has a minor absorption peak at 690 nm±10 nm in the visible-infrared absorption spectrum.

18. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 17, wherein said minor absorption peak has an intensity of ¾ or less of the major absorption peak.

19. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein said mixture includes a polymeric binding resin.

20. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the photosensitive layer is a single-layered type photosensitive layer having a charge generating function and a charge transporting function at the same time.

21. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the photosensitive layer is a laminated type photosensitive layer comprising a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer, and the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is included in the charge generating layer, and the distyryl compound is included in the charge transporting layer.

22. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal does not have an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm or greater.

23. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal has a distinct peak at a Bragg angle (2θ) of 9.2°, 14.5°, 18.1°, 24.1°, and 27.3° (all may include an error of ±0.2°) in an X-ray diffraction spectrum.

24. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the titanyl phthalocyanine crystal is obtained by kneading a titanyl phthalocyanine crystal having an absorption peak at a wavelength of 800 nm in a visible-infrared absorption spectrum using an alcoholic solvent.

25. The electrophotographic photoreceptor of claim 15, wherein the distyryl compound represented by Formula 1 is selected from the group consisting of: