Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 9599915
  • Patent Number
    9,599,915
  • Date Filed
    Monday, February 23, 2015
    9 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 21, 2017
    7 years ago
Abstract
A conductive layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a binder material, a first metal oxide particle, and a second metal oxide particle. The first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine. The second metal oxide particle is an uncoated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle. The content of the first metal oxide particle is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer. The content of the second metal oxide particle is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention


The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including an electrophotographic photosensitive member.


Description of the Related Art


In recent years, electrophotographic photosensitive members that use an organic photoconductive material (charge generation material) have been used as electrophotographic photosensitive members included in process cartridges and electrophotographic apparatuses. Electrophotographic photosensitive members generally include a support and a photosensitive layer formed on the support.


Furthermore, a conductive layer containing conductive particles (metal oxide particles) is disposed between the support and the photosensitive layer for the purpose of covering surface defects of the support and protecting the photosensitive layer from electrical breakdown. However, the potential of the conductive layer containing metal oxide particles easily varies due to environmental changes in temperature and humidity and repeated use of electrophotographic photosensitive members. There is a technique of improving the potential characteristics by improving metal oxide particles.


Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-191861 discloses a technique of incorporating two types of metal oxide particles having different average particle diameters in an undercoat layer (conductive layer). Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18370 discloses a technique of incorporating, into a conductive layer, titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, or fluorine.


However, as a result of studies conducted by the present inventors, it has been found that the electrophotographic photosensitive member described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-191861 includes a conductive layer with a high volume resistivity, and thus the variations in a dark-area potential and a light-area potential sometimes increase in the repeated use. Furthermore, as a result of studies conducted by the present inventors, it has been found that, when a high voltage is applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18370 in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, there is still a room for suppressing the generation of leakage. Leakage is a phenomenon in which a dielectric breakdown is caused in a local portion of an electrophotographic photosensitive member, and an excessively high electric current flows in the portion. If leakage is generated, the electrophotographic photosensitive member is not sufficiently charged, which results in image defects such as black spots, horizontal white streaks, and horizontal black streaks on a formed image. The horizontal white streaks are white streaks that appear on an output image in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction (circumferential direction) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member. The horizontal black streaks are black streaks that appear on an output image in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction (circumferential direction) of the electrophotographic photosensitive member.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which the variations in a dark-area potential and a light-area potential in the repeated use are suppressed and the leakage is not easily generated, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member.


An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to one aspect of the present invention includes:


a support;


a conductive layer on the support; and


a photosensitive layer on the conductive layer,


wherein the conductive layer includes:

    • a binder material;
    • a first metal oxide particle; and
    • a second metal oxide particle,


the first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine,


the second metal oxide particle is an uncoated zinc oxide particle,


a content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on a total volume of the conductive layer, and


a content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.


An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to another aspect of the present invention includes:


a support;


a conductive layer on the support; and


a photosensitive layer on the conductive layer,


wherein the conductive layer includes:

    • a binder material;
    • a first metal oxide particle; and
    • a second metal oxide particle,


the first metal oxide particle is a tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine,


the second metal oxide particle is an uncoated tin oxide particle,


a content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on a total volume of the conductive layer, and


a content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.


A process cartridge according to another aspect of the present invention is detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the process cartridge integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one selected from the group consisting of a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning member.


An electrophotographic apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging device, an exposing device, a developing device, and a transfer device.


According to the present invention, there can be provided an electrophotographic photosensitive member in which the variations in a dark-area potential and a light-area potential in the repeated use are suppressed and the leakage is not easily generated, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each including the electrophotographic photosensitive member.


Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic structure of an electrophotographic apparatus that includes a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member.



FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a needle withstand voltage tester.



FIG. 3 is a top view for describing a method for measuring the volume resistivity of a conductive layer.



FIG. 4 is a sectional view for describing a method for measuring the volume resistivity of a conductive layer.



FIG. 5 is a diagram for describing a similar knight jump pattern image.





DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to an embodiment of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, a conductive layer formed on the support, and a photosensitive layer formed on the conductive layer.


The photosensitive layer is classified into a single-layer type photosensitive layer in which a charge generation material and a charge transport material are contained in a single layer and a multilayer type photosensitive layer in which a charge generating layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transport material are stacked. In an embodiment of the present invention, a multilayer type photosensitive layer can be used. If necessary, an undercoat layer may be disposed between the conductive layer and the photosensitive layer.


Support


A support having conductivity (conductive support) can be used. For example, a metal support formed of a metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or stainless steel can be used. When aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used, an aluminum tube produced by a method including extrusion and drawing or an aluminum tube produced by a method including extrusion and ironing can be used.


Conductive Layer


In an embodiment of the present invention, a conductive layer is disposed on the support in order to cover surface defects of the support. The conductive layer contains a binder material, a first metal oxide particle, and a second metal oxide particle.


The first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine or a tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine.


Specifically, the first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide (ZnO) particle or a tin oxide (SnO2) particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) doped with phosphorus (P), a zinc oxide (ZnO) particle or a tin oxide (SnO2) particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) doped with tungsten (W), a zinc oxide (ZnO) particle or a tin oxide (SnO2) particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) doped with niobium (Nb), a zinc oxide (ZnO) particle or a tin oxide (SnO2) particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) doped with tantalum (Ta), or a zinc oxide (ZnO) particle or a tin oxide (SnO2) particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) doped with fluorine (F). They may be collectively referred to as a “P/W/Nb/Ta/F-doped tin oxide-coated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle”.


The second metal oxide particle is an uncoated zinc oxide particle or an uncoated tin oxide particle. The uncoated zinc oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle which is not coated with an inorganic material such as tin oxide or aluminum oxide and also is not coated (surface-treated) with an organic material such as a silane coupling agent. The uncoated tin oxide particle is a tin oxide particle which is not coated with an inorganic material such as tin oxide or aluminum oxide and also is not coated (surface-treated) with an organic material such as a silane coupling agent. Furthermore, the uncoated zinc oxide particle and the uncoated tin oxide particle are desirably not doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine. Hereafter, they may be collectively referred to as an “uncoated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle”.


The P/W/Nb/Ta/F-doped tin oxide-coated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle used as the first metal oxide particle is contained in the conductive layer in an amount of 20% by volume or more and 50% by volume or less based on the total volume of the conductive layer.


The uncoated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle used as the second metal oxide particle is contained in the conductive layer in an amount of 0.1% by volume or more and 15% by volume or less based on the total volume of the conductive layer. Furthermore, the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is 0.5% by volume or more and 30% by volume or less based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer. The content is particularly 1% by volume or more and 20% by volume or less.


If the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is less than 20% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, the distance between the first metal oxide particles tends to increase. As the distance between the first metal oxide particles increases, the volume resistivity of the conductive layer increases. This tends to prevent the smooth flow of charges during the image formation, increase the residual potential, and cause a dark-area potential and a light-area potential to vary.


If the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is more than 50% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, the first metal oxide particles tend to come close to each other. A portion in which the first metal oxide particle is in contact with each other is a portion in which the volume resistivity of the conductive layer is locally low. As a result, leakage easily occurs in the electrophotographic photosensitive member.


A surface of an inorganic pigment particle (zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle) can be coated with P/W/Nb/Ta/F-doped tin oxide by the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-349167. The tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide (SnO2) can be produced by the method disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-30886.


Compared with the first metal oxide particle, an uncoated zinc oxide particle or a tin oxide particle serving as the second metal oxide particle is believed to have a function of suppressing the leakage generated when a high voltage is applied to an electrophotographic photosensitive member in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment.


It is generally considered that charges flowing through the conductive layer mainly flow along a surface of the first metal oxide particle having a powder resistivity lower than that of the second metal oxide particle. If the second metal oxide particle is not used, it is considered that charges are concentrated in a portion in which the ratio of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is large when a high voltage is applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and thus leakage easily occurs in the electrophotographic photosensitive member.


The first metal oxide particle and the second metal oxide particle have conductivity higher than that of a nonconductive binder material. In the case where the second metal oxide particle having a powder resistivity higher than that of the first metal oxide particle is added to the conductive layer, it is believed that only when an excessively large amount of charges flows through the conductive layer, charges flow along the surface of the second metal oxide particle in addition to the surface of the first metal oxide particle. When a high voltage is applied to the electrophotographic photosensitive member and an excessively large amount of charges flows through the conductive layer, charges flow along the surface of the second metal oxide particle. As a result, it is believed that charges more uniformly flow through the conductive layer, and thus the generation of leakage is suppressed.


If the content of the second metal oxide particle (uncoated zinc oxide particle or tin oxide particle) in the conductive layer is less than 0.1% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, only a small effect achieved by adding the second metal oxide particle to the conductive layer is produced.


If the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is more than 20% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, the volume resistivity of the conductive layer tends to increase. This tends to prevent the smooth flow of charges during the image formation, increase the residual potential, and cause a dark-area potential and a light-area potential to vary.


If the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is less than 0.5% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle, only a small effect achieved by adding the second metal oxide particle to the conductive layer is produced.


If the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle, the volume resistivity of the conductive layer tends to increase. This tends to prevent the smooth flow of charges during the image formation, increase the residual potential, and cause a dark-area potential and a light-area potential to vary.


The shape of the zinc oxide particle or the tin oxide particle serving as a core particle in the first metal oxide particle and the shape of the second metal oxide particle may be a particulate shape, a spherical shape, a needle-like shape, a fibrous shape, a columnar shape, a rod-like shape, a spindle shape, a plate-like shape, or another shape similar to the foregoing. Among them, a spherical shape is particularly employed because formation of image defects such as black spots is suppressed.


The volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is preferably 0.10 μm or more and 0.45 μm or less and more preferably 0.15 μm or more and 0.40 μm or less.


If the volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particle is 0.10 μm or more, reaggregation of the first metal oxide particle after a conductive layer-forming coating solution is prepared is further suppressed. If the reaggregation of the first metal oxide particle occurs, the stability of the conductive layer-forming coating solution decreases and cracks are easily formed on the surface of a conductive layer to be formed.


When the volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particle is 0.45 μm or less, the surface of the conductive layer is not easily roughened, which leads to favorable results. If the surface of the conductive layer is roughened, the local injection of charges into the photosensitive layer tends to occur, and thus black spots on a white background of an output image are clearly observed.


The ratio (D1/D2) of the volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle to the volume-average particle diameter (D2) of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is preferably 0.7 or more and 1.5 or less and more preferably 1.0 or more and 1.5 or less.


When the ratio (D1/D2) is 0.7 or more, the volume-average particle diameter of the second metal oxide particle is not excessively large compared with the volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particle. Thus, the variations in a dark-area potential and a light-area potential are suppressed. When the ratio (D1/D2) is 1.5 or less, the volume-average particle diameter of the second metal oxide particle is not excessively small compared with the volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particle. Thus, the leakage is further suppressed.


In an embodiment of the present invention, the content and volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particle and the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer can be determined from a three-dimensional structure analysis obtained from the elemental mapping that uses FIB-SEM and the Slice & View of FIB-SEM.


The ratio (coating ratio) of tin oxide (SnO2) that coats the first metal oxide particle can be 10 to 60 mass % based on the first metal oxide particle. To control the coating ratio of the tin oxide, a tin raw material required to generate tin oxide can be added in the production of the first metal oxide particle. When, for example, tin chloride (SnCl4) serving as a tin raw material is used, the amount of tin chloride added is determined in consideration of the coating ratio of tin oxide generated from the tin chloride (SnCl4). In an embodiment of the present invention, the coating ratio of the tin oxide of the first metal oxide particle is determined without taking into account the mass of phosphorus, tungsten, fluorine, niobium, or tantalum with which the tin oxide is doped.


The powder resistivity of the first metal oxide particle is preferably 1.0×101 Ω·cm or more and 1.0×106 Ω·cm or less and more preferably 1.0×102 Ω·cm or more and 1.0×106 Ω·cm or less.


The powder resistivity of the second metal oxide particle is preferably 1.0×10° Ω·cm or more and 1.0×105 Ω·cm or less and more preferably 1.0×101 Ω·cm or more and 1.0×104 Ω·cm or less.


The amount (doping ratio) of phosphorus, tungsten, fluorine, niobium, or tantalum with which the tin oxide in the first metal oxide particle is doped can be 0.1 to 10 mass % based on the tin oxide. In this case, the mass of the tin oxide is a mass of tin oxide not containing phosphorus, tungsten, fluorine, niobium, or tantalum.


The volume resistivity of the conductive layer can be 1.0×108 Ω·cm or more and 5.0×1012 Ω·cm or less. When the volume resistivity of the conductive layer is 5.0×1012 Ω·cm or less, charges smoothly flow and an increase in the residual potential is suppressed. When the volume resistivity of the conductive layer is 1.0×108 Ω·cm or more, the amount of charges that flow in the conductive layer is favorably adjusted when the electrophotographic photosensitive member is charged.


A method for measuring the volume resistivity of the conductive layer will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a top view for describing the method for measuring the volume resistivity of the conductive layer. FIG. 4 is a sectional view for describing the method for measuring the volume resistivity of the conductive layer.


The volume resistivity of the conductive layer is measured in an ordinary-temperature and ordinary-humidity environment (23° C./50% RH). A copper tape 203 (Model No. 1181 manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited) is attached to the surface of a conductive layer 202, and the copper tape 203 is treated as a front side electrode of the conductive layer 202. A support 201 is treated as a back side electrode of the conductive layer 202. A power supply 206 for applying a voltage between the copper tape 203 and the support 201 and an ammeter 207 for measuring an electric current that flows between the copper tape 203 and the support 201 are provided. A copper wire 204 is placed on the copper tape 203 to apply a voltage to the copper tape 203. A copper tape 205, which is the same as the copper tape 203, is attached onto the copper wire 204 so that the copper wire 204 does not lie outside the copper tape 203. Thus, the copper wire 204 is fixed. A voltage is applied to the copper tape 203 through the copper wire 204.


A value obtained from formula (1) below is defined as a volume resistivity ρ (Ω·cm) of the conductive layer 202.

ρ=1/(I−I0S/d(Ω·cm)  (1)


In the formula, I0 represents a background current value (A) when a voltage is not applied between the copper tape 203 and the support 201; I represents a current value (A) when only a direct-current voltage (direct-current component) of −1 V is applied; d represents a thickness (cm) of the conductive layer 202; and S represents an area (cm2) of the front side electrode (copper tape 203) of the conductive layer 202.


In this measurement, a very small current value of 1×10−6 A or less expressed in terms of absolute value is measured. Therefore, the ammeter 207 is a device capable of measuring minute current. Examples of the device include a pA meter (trade name: 4140B) manufactured by Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard and a high resistance meter (trade name: 4339B) manufactured by Agilent Technologies.


The volume resistivity of the conductive layer measured in a structure in which only the conductive layer is formed on the support is equal to the volume resistivity measured in a structure in which layers (e.g., photosensitive layer) on the conductive layer are removed from the electrophotographic photosensitive member and only the conductive layer is left on the support.


The powder resistivity of the first metal oxide particle is measured as follows.


The powder resistivities of the first metal oxide particle and the second metal oxide particle are measured in an ordinary-temperature and ordinary-humidity environment (23° C./50% RH). In an embodiment of the present invention, the measurement instrument is a resistivity meter (trade name: Loresta GP) manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. The first metal oxide particle and second metal oxide particle to be measured are formed into a pellet-shaped measurement sample by being solidified at a pressure of 500 kg/cm2. The application voltage is 100 V.


The conductive layer can be formed by applying a conductive layer-forming coating solution containing a solvent, a binder material, the first metal oxide particle, and the second metal oxide particle onto a support to form a coating film and then drying and/or curing the resulting coating film.


The conductive layer-forming coating solution can be prepared by dispersing the first metal oxide particle, the second metal oxide particle, and a binder material in a solvent. The dispersion may be performed with a paint shaker, a sand mill, a ball mill, or a liquid collision high speed disperser.


Examples of the binder material used in the conductive layer include phenolic resin, polyurethane, polyamide, polyimide, polyamide-imide, polyvinyl acetal, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, melamine resin, and polyester. These binder materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among these resins, a curable resin is preferably used and a heat-curable resin is more preferably used to suppress the migration (penetration) into other layers, increase the adhesiveness to the support, and improve the dispersibility and dispersion stability of the first metal oxide particle and the second metal oxide particle. Among the heat-curable resins, a heat-curable phenolic resin or a heat-curable polyurethane is particularly used. When the curable resin is used as a binder material for the conductive layer, the binder material contained in the conductive layer-forming coating solution is a monomer and/or an oligomer of the curable resin.


Examples of the solvent used in the conductive layer-forming coating solution include alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and cyclohexanone; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether; esters such as methyl acetate and ethyl acetate; and aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene.


The thickness of the conductive layer is preferably 10 μm or more and 40 μm or less and more preferably 15 μm or more and 35 μm or less to cover the surface defects of the support.


The thickness of each layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member including the conductive layer is measured with FISHERSCOPE MMS manufactured by Fischer Instruments K.K.


The conductive layer may contain a surface roughening material to suppress the generation of interference fringes on an output image due to the interference of light reflected at the surface of the conductive layer. The surface roughening material is, for example, resin particles having an average particle diameter of 1 μm or more and 5 μm or less. Examples of the resin particles include particles of curable resins such as curable rubber, polyurethane, epoxy resin, alkyd resin, phenolic resin, polyester, silicone resin, and acrylic-melamine resin. Among them, particles of silicone resin are particularly used because they are not easily aggregated. The density (0.5 to 2 g/cm3) of the resin particle is lower than the densities (5 to 8 g/cm3) of the first metal oxide particle. Therefore, the surface of the conductive layer can be efficiently roughened when the conductive layer is formed. The content of the surface roughening material in the conductive layer can be 1 to 80 mass % based on the binder material in the conductive layer.


The densities (g/cm3) of the first metal oxide particle, the second metal oxide particle, the binder material (if the binder material is liquid, the binder material is cured and then the density is measured), and the silicone particles are determined as follows using a dry-process automatic densitometer (trade name: Accupyc 1330) manufactured by SHIMADZU CORPORATION. The densities are measured at 23° C. with a container having a volume of 10 cm3. The pretreatment of particles to be measured is helium gas purge performed ten times at a maximum pressure of 19.5 psig. Subsequently, whether the pressure in the container reaches equilibrium is determined. When the fluctuation of the pressure in the chamber is 0.0050 psig/min or less, an equilibrium state is considered to be achieved and the density (g/cm3) is automatically measured. The density of the first metal oxide particle can be adjusted with, for example, doping species of the tin oxide.


The density of the second metal oxide particle can also be adjusted by controlling the crystal form and the mixing ratio. The conductive layer may also contain a leveling agent for improving the surface properties of the conductive layer.


Undercoat Layer


An undercoat layer having electrical barrier properties may be disposed between the conductive layer and the photosensitive layer to prevent charges from being injected into the photosensitive layer from the conductive layer.


The undercoat layer can be formed by applying an undercoat layer-forming coating solution containing a resin (binder resin) onto the conductive layer to form a coating film and then drying the resulting coating film.


Examples of the resin (binder resin) used for the undercoat layer include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyacrylic acid, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, polyglutamic acid, casein, polyamide, polyimide, polyamide-imide, polyamic acid, melamine resin, epoxy resin, polyurethane, and polyglutamic acid ester. Among them, a heat-curable resin is particularly used. Among the heat-curable resins, a heat-curable polyamide is particularly used. The polyamide is, for example, a copolymer nylon.


The thickness of the undercoat layer can be 0.1 μm or more and 2 μm or less. The undercoat layer may contain an electron transport material (electron accepting material such as acceptor) to cause charges to smoothly flow in the undercoat layer.


Examples of the electron transport material include electron withdrawing materials such as 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone, chloranil, and tetracyanoquinodimethane; and materials obtained by polymerizing the electron withdrawing materials.


Photosensitive Layer


A photosensitive layer is disposed on the conductive layer or the undercoat layer.


Examples of the charge generation material used for the photosensitive layer include azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, indigo pigments, perylene pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, thiapyrylium salts, triphenylmethane dyes, quinacridone pigments, azulenium salt pigments, cyanine dyes, xanthene dyes, quinoneimine dyes, and styryl dyes. Among them, metal phthalocyanines such as oxytitanium phthalocyanine, hydroxygallium phthalocyanine, and chlorogallium phthalocyanine are particularly used.


When the photosensitive layer is a multilayer type photosensitive layer, the charge generating layer can be formed by applying a charge generating layer-forming coating solution prepared by dispersing a charge generation material and a binder resin in a solvent to form a coating film and then drying the resulting coating film. The dispersion is performed with, for example, a homogenizer, an ultrasonic disperser, a ball mill, a sand mill, an attritor, or a roll mill.


Examples of the binder resin used for the charge generating layer include polycarbonate, polyester, polyarylate, butyral resin, polystyrene, polyvinyl acetal, diallyl phthalate resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl acetate resin, phenolic resin, silicone resin, polysulfone, styrene-butadiene copolymers, alkyd resin, epoxy resin, urea resin, and vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more as a mixture or a copolymer.


The mass ratio of the charge generation material and the binder resin (charge generation material:binder resin) is preferably in the range of 10:1 to 1:10 and more preferably in the range of 5:1 to 1:1.


Examples of the solvent used for the charge generating layer-forming coating solution include alcohols, sulfoxides, ketones, ethers, esters, halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons, and aromatic compounds.


The thickness of the charge generating layer is preferably 5 μm or less and more preferably 0.1 μm or more and 2 μm or less.


The charge generating layer may optionally contain various additive agents such as a sensitizer, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, and a plasticizer. The charge generating layer may also contain an electron transport material (electron accepting material such as acceptor) to cause charges to smoothly flow in the charge generating layer.


Examples of the charge transport material used for the photosensitive layer include triarylamine compounds, hydrazone compounds, styryl compounds, stilbene compounds, pyrazoline compounds, oxazole compounds, thiazole compounds, and triallylmethane compounds.


When the photosensitive layer is a multilayer type photosensitive layer, the charge transporting layer can be formed by applying a charge transporting layer-forming coating solution prepared by dissolving a charge transport material and a binder resin in a solvent to form a coating film and then drying the resulting coating film.


Examples of the binder resin used for the charge transporting layer include acrylic resin, styrene resin, polyester, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polysulfone, polyphenylene oxide, epoxy resin, polyurethane, and alkyd resin. These resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more as a mixture or a copolymer.


The mass ratio of the charge transport material and the binder resin (charge transport material:binder resin) can be in the range of 2:1 to 1:2.


Examples of the solvent used for the charge transporting layer-forming coating solution include ketone solvents, ester solvents, ether solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and hydrocarbon solvents substituted with a halogen atom.


The thickness of the charge transporting layer is preferably 3 μm or more and 40 μm or less and more preferably 4 μm or more and 30 μm or less.


The charge transporting layer may optionally contain an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, and a plasticizer.


When the photosensitive layer is a single-layer type photosensitive layer, the single-layer type photosensitive layer can be formed by applying a single-layer type photosensitive layer-forming coating solution containing a charge generation material, a charge transport material, a binder resin, and a solvent to form a coating film and then drying the resulting coating film. The charge generation material, the charge transport material, the binder resin, and the solvent may be those described above.


A protective layer may be disposed on the photosensitive layer to protect the photosensitive layer.


The protective layer can be formed by applying a protective layer-forming coating solution containing a resin (binder resin) and then drying and/or curing the resulting coating film.


The thickness of the protective layer is preferably 0.5 μm or more and 10 μm or less and more preferably 1 μm or more and 8 μm or less.


The coating solution for each of the layers can be applied by dipping (dip coating), spray coating, spinner coating, roller coating, Meyer bar coating, blade coating, or the like.



FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic structure of an electrophotographic apparatus that includes a process cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member.


In FIG. 1, a drum-shaped (cylindrical) electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is rotated about a shaft 2 at a predetermined peripheral speed in a direction indicated by an arrow.


The surface (peripheral surface) of the rotated electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is uniformly charged at a predetermined positive or negative potential by a charging device (first charging device such as a charging roller) 3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is then irradiated with exposure light (image exposure light) 4 emitted from an exposing device (not illustrated) such as a slit exposing device or a laser beam scanning exposing device. Thus, electrostatic latent images corresponding to intended images are successively formed on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The voltage applied to the charging device 3 may be only a direct-current voltage or a direct-current voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating voltage.


The electrostatic latent images formed on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 are subjected to development with a toner contained in a developing device 5 and are made visible as toner images. The toner images formed on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 are then transferred onto a transfer material (e.g., paper) P by a transfer bias from a transfer device (e.g., transfer roller) 6. The transfer material P is fed to a portion (contact portion) between the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the transfer device 6 from a transfer material feeding device (not illustrated) in synchronism with the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.


The transfer material P onto which toner images have been transferred is separated from the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and is conveyed to a fixing device 8. After the toner images are fixed, the transfer material P is output from the electrophotographic apparatus as an image-formed article (such as a print or a copy).


The peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 after the toner images have been transferred is cleaned by removing an untransferred residual toner with a cleaning member (e.g., cleaning blade) 7. The electricity on the peripheral surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is removed with pre-exposure light 11 from a pre-exposing device (not illustrated), and then the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is repeatedly used for image forming. In the case where the charging device is a contact charging device such as a charging roller, pre-exposure is not necessarily required.


The electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and at least one component selected from the charging device 3, the developing device 5, the transfer device 6, and the cleaning member 7 may be incorporated in a container and integrally supported to provide a process cartridge. The process cartridge may be detachably attachable to the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus. In FIG. 1, the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the charging device 3, the developing device 5, and the cleaning member 7 are integrally supported to provide a process cartridge 9, which is detachably attachable to the main body of an electrophotographic apparatus using a guide unit 10 such as a rail of the main body. The electrophotographic apparatus may include the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 and the charging device 3, the exposing device, the developing device 5, and the transfer device 6.


EXAMPLES

Hereafter, the present invention will be further described in detail based on specific Examples, but is not limited thereto. In Examples and Comparative Examples, “part” means “part by mass”. In Examples and Comparative Examples, the particle size distribution of each type of particles had one peak.


Preparation Examples of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solutions
Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution 1

Into a sand mill, 150 parts of zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus (powder resistivity: 5.0×102 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, powder resistivity of core particles (zinc oxide particles): 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter of core particles (zinc oxide particles): 0.18 μm, density: 5.61 g/cm3) serving as first metal oxide particles, 10 parts of uncoated zinc oxide particles (powder resistivity: 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 5.61 g/cm3) serving as second metal oxide particles, 168 parts of phenolic resin (monomer/oligomer of phenolic resin) (trade name: Plyophen J-325 manufactured by DIC Corporation, resin solid content: 60%, density after curing: 1.3 g/cm3) serving as a binder material, and 98 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol serving as a solvent were inserted together with 420 parts of glass beads having a diameter of 0.8 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed at a rotational speed of 1500 rpm for a dispersion treatment time of 4 hours to obtain a dispersion liquid.


The glass beads were removed from the dispersion liquid with a mesh. Then, 13.8 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120 manufactured by Momentive Performance Materials Inc., average particle diameter: 2 μm, density: 1.3 g/cm3) serving as a surface roughening material were added to the resulting dispersion liquid. Furthermore, 0.014 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA manufactured by Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd.) serving as a leveling agent, 6 parts of methanol, and 6 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol were added to the dispersion liquid, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution 1.


Preparation Examples of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solutions 2 to 100, C1 to C37, and C43 to C77

The type, volume-average particle diameter, and amount (number of parts) of the first metal oxide particles and the second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to those listed in Tables 1 to 5. Except for the above changes, conductive layer-forming coating solutions 2 to 100, C1 to C37, and C43 to C77 were prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1. In the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solutions 18 and 84, the rotational speed was changed to 2500 rpm, and the dispersion treatment time was changed to 30 hours.









TABLE 1







Table 1












Second metal oxide





particles
Binder material




(uncoated zinc oxide
(B)



First metal oxide particles
particles)
(phenolic resin)

















Volume-

Volume-

Amount [part]





average

average

(resin solid


Conductive

Powder
particle

particle

content is 60


layer-forming

resistivity
diameter
Amount
diameter
Amount
mass % of the


coating solution
Type
[Ω · cm]
[μm]
[part]
[μm]
[part]
following value)

















1
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
10
168


2
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
28
168


3
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
38
168


4
phosphorus
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
2
168


5
Density: 6.1 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
23
168


6

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
51
168


7

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
26
168


8

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
38
168


9

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
69
168


10

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
102
168


11

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
151
168


12

5.0 × 102
0.45
290
0.20
14
168


13

5.0 × 102
0.45
290
0.40
14
168


14

5.0 × 102
0.15
290
0.15
14
168


15

5.0 × 102
0.15
290
0.10
14
168


16

2.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
23
168


17

1.5 × 103
0.20
290
0.20
23
168


18

5.0 × 102
0.20
160
0.20
12
168


19
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
10
168


20
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
14
168


21
doped with tungsten
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
23
168


22
Density: 6.3 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
50
168


23

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
38
168


24

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
68
168


25

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
100
168


26

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
149
168


27

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.20
23
168


28

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.40
23
168


29

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.15
23
168


30

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.10
23
168


31
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
140
0.20
10
168


32
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
14
168


33
doped with fluorine
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
23
168


34
Density: 6.0 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
540
0.20
50
168


35

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
39
168


36

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
70
168


37

5.0 × 102
0.20
540
0.20
101
168


38

5.0 × 102
0.20
540
0.20
151
168


39

5.0 × 102
0.45
290
0.20
23
168


40

5.0 × 102
0.45
290
0.40
23
168


41

5.0 × 102
0.15
290
0.15
23
168


42

5.0 × 102
0.15
290
0.10
23
168
















TABLE 2







Table 2












Second metal oxide





particles
Binder material




(uncoated zinc oxide
(B)



First metal oxide particles
particles)
(phenolic resin)

















Volume-

Volume-

Amount [part]





average

average

(resin solid


Conductive

Powder
particle

particle

content is 60


layer-forming

resistivity
diameter
Amount
diameter
Amount
mass % of the


coating solution
Type
[Ω · cm]
[μm]
[part]
[μm]
[part]
following value)

















43
Zinc oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
10
168


44
particles coated
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
14
168


45
with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
23
168


46
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
550
0.20
50
168


47
niobium
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
39
168


48
Density: 6.2 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
70
168


49

5.0 × 102
0.20
550
0.20
100
168


50

5.0 × 102
0.20
550
0.20
149
168


51

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.20
23
168


52

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.40
23
168


53

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.15
23
168


54

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.10
23
168


55
Zinc oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
150
0.20
10
168


56
particles coated
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
14
168


57
with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
23
168


58
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
50
168


59
tantalum
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
38
168


60
Density: 6.3 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
69
168


61

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
100
168


62

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
149
168


63

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.20
23
168


64

5.0 × 102
0.45
300
0.40
23
168


65

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.15
23
168


66

5.0 × 102
0.15
300
0.10
23
168
















TABLE 3







Table 3












Second metal oxide





particles
Binder material




(uncoated zinc oxide
(B)



First metal oxide particles
particles)
(phenolic resin)

















Volume-

Volume-

Amount [part]





average

average

(resin solid


Conductive

Powder
particle

particle

content is 60


layer-forming

resistivity
diameter
Amount
diameter
Amount
mass % of the


coating solution
Type
[Ω · cm]
[μm]
[part]
[μm]
[part]
following value)

















C1
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
100
0.20
9
168


C2
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
660
0.20
55
168













C3
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
not used
168














C4
phosphorus
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
0.4
168


C5
Density: 6.1 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
530
0.20
0.4
168


C6

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
190
168


C7

5.0 × 102
0.20
540
0.20
250
168


C8

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
1
168


C9

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
91
168


C10
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
100
0.20
9
168


C11
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
680
0.20
55
168













C12
doped with tungsten
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
not used
168














C13
Density: 6.3 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
0.4
168


C14

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
250
168


C15

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
1
168


C16

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
92
168


C17
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
90
0.20
8
168


C18
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
650
0.20
55
168













C19
doped with fluorine
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
not used
168














C20
Density: 6.0 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
0.4
168


C21

5.0 × 102
0.20
530
0.20
248
168


C22

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
1
168


C23

5.0 × 102
0.20
290
0.20
93
168


C24
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
100
0.20
9
168


C25
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
670
0.20
55
168













C26
doped with niobium
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
not used
168














C27
Density: 6.2 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
0.4
168


C28

5.0 × 102
0.20
550
0.20
250
168


C29

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
1
168


C30

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
93
168


C31
Zinc oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
100
0.20
9
168


C32
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
680
0.20
55
168













C33
doped with tantalum
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
not used
168














C34
Density: 6.3 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
0.4
168


C35

5.0 × 102
0.20
560
0.20
250
168


C36

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
1
168


C37

5.0 × 102
0.20
300
0.20
92
168
















TABLE 4







Table 4












Second metal oxide





particles
Binder material




(uncoated tin oxide
(B)



First metal oxide particles
particles)
(phenolic resin)

















Volume-

Volume-

Amount [part]





average

average

(resin solid


Conductive

Powder
particle

particle

content is 60


layer-forming

resistivity
diameter
Amount
diameter
Amount
mass % of the


coating solution
Type
[Ω · cm]
[μm]
[part]
[μm]
[part]
following value)

















67
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
160
0.20
11
168


68
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
170
0.20
35
168


69
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
170
0.20
52
168


70
phosphorus
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
2
168


71
Density: 6.8 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
29
168


72

5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
63
168


73

5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
31
168


74

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
48
168


75

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
87
168


76

5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
125
168


77

5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
187
168


78

5.0 × 102
0.45
330
0.20
17
168


79

5.0 × 102
0.45
330
0.40
17
168


80

5.0 × 102
0.15
330
0.15
17
168


81

5.0 × 102
0.15
330
0.10
17
168


82

2.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
29
168


83

1.5 × 103
0.20
330
0.20
29
168


84

5.0 × 102
0.20
170
0.20
12
168


85
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
170
0.20
12
168


86
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
17
168


87
doped with tungsten
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
29
168


88
Density: 7.2 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
640
0.20
62
168


89
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
160
0.20
12
168


90
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
17
168


91
doped with fluorine
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
29
168


92
Density: 6.8 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
62
168


93
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
160
0.20
12
168


94
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
340
0.20
17
168


95
doped with niobium
5.0 × 102
0.20
340
0.20
29
168


96
Density: 7.0 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
630
0.20
63
168


97
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
170
0.20
13
168


98
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
187
168


99
doped with tantalum
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
29
168


100
Density: 7.1 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
640
0.20
63
168
















TABLE 5







Table 5












Second metal oxide





particles
Binder material




(uncoated tin oxide
(B)



First metal oxide particles
particles)
(phenolic resin)

















Volume-

Volume-

Amount [part]





average

average

(resin solid


Conductive

Powder
particle

particle

content is 60


layer-forming

resistivity
diameter
Amount
diameter
Amount
mass % of the


coating solution
Type
[Ω · cm]
[μm]
[part]
[μm]
[part]
following value)

















C43
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
110
0.20
11
168


C44
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
800
0.20
74
168













C45
doped with
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
not used
168














C46
phosphorus
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
0.5
168


C47
Density: 6.8 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
312
168


C48

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
11
168


C49

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
120
168


C50
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
110
0.20
11
168


C51
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
820
0.20
72
168













C52
doped with tungsten
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
not used
168














C53
Density: 7.2 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
0.5
168


C54

5.0 × 102
0.20
650
0.20
313
168


C55

5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
1
168


C56

5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
116
168


C57
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
110
0.20
11
168


C58
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
780
0.20
73
168













C59
doped with fluorine
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
not used
168














C60
Density: 6.8 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
0.5
168


C61

5.0 × 102
0.20
610
0.20
312
168


C62

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
1
168


C63

5.0 × 102
0.20
330
0.20
116
168


C64
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
110
0.20
11
168


C65
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
790
0.20
71
168













C66
doped with niobium
5.0 × 102
0.20
340
not used
168














C67
Density: 7.0 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
340
0.20
0.5
168


C68

5.0 × 102
0.20
630
0.20
313
168


C69

5.0 × 102
0.20
340
0.20
1
168


C70

5.0 × 102
0.20
340
0.20
116
168


C71
Tin oxide particles
5.0 × 102
0.20
110
0.20
11
168


C72
coated with tin oxide
5.0 × 102
0.20
820
0.20
73
168













C73
doped with tantalum
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
not used
168














C74
Density: 7.1 g/cm3
5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
0.5
168


C75

5.0 × 102
0.20
640
0.20
314
168


C76

5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
1
168


C77

5.0 × 102
0.20
350
0.20
118
168









Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C38

The second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to 38 parts of uncoated tin oxide particles (powder resistivity: 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 6.95 g/cm3). Except for the above change, a conductive layer-forming coating solution C38 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 8.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C39

The second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to 38 parts of uncoated titanium oxide particles (rutile titanium oxide, powder resistivity: 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 4.2 g/cm3). Except for the above change, a conductive layer-forming coating solution C39 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C40

The first metal oxide particles and the second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to 200 parts of tin oxide particles doped with phosphorus (powder resistivity: 5.0×101 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.02 μm, density: 6.7 g/cm3). Except for the above change, a conductive layer-forming coating solution C40 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C41

The first metal oxide particles and the second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to 300 parts of uncoated tin-zinc composite oxide particles (powder resistivity: 7.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 6.3 g/cm3). Except for the above change, a conductive layer-forming coating solution C41 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C42

The first metal oxide particles and the second metal oxide particles used in the preparation of the conductive layer-forming coating solution were changed to 150 parts of uncoated zinc oxide particles (powder resistivity: 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 5.61 g/cm3) and 150 parts of uncoated tin oxide particles (powder resistivity: 5.0×107 Ω·cm, volume-average particle diameter: 0.20 μm, density: 6.95 g/cm3). Except for the above change, a conductive layer-forming coating solution C42 was prepared in the same manner as in Preparation Example of the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C78

A conductive layer-forming coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in the conductive layer-forming coating solution L-4 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18370. This solution was treated as a conductive layer-forming coating solution C78.


Specifically, 54.8 parts of titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus (volume-average particle diameter: 0.15 μm, powder resistivity: 2.0×102 Ω·cm, coating ratio of tin oxide (SnO2): 15 mass %, amount (doping amount) of phosphorus with which tin oxide is doped: 7 mass %), 36.5 parts of phenolic resin (trade name: Plyophen J-325), and 50 parts of methoxypropanol (1-methoxy-2-propanol) serving as a solvent were inserted into a sand mill together with glass beads having a diameter of 0.5 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed at a disc rotational speed of 2500 rpm for a dispersion treatment time of 3.5 hours to obtain a dispersion liquid. To this dispersion liquid, 3.9 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120) and 0.001 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA) were added, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution C78.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C79

A conductive layer-forming coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in the conductive layer-forming coating solution L-14 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18370. This solution was treated as a conductive layer-forming coating solution C79.


Specifically, 37.5 parts of titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tungsten (volume-average particle diameter: 0.15 μm, powder resistivity: 2.5×102 Ω·cm, coating ratio of tin oxide: 15 mass %, amount (doping amount) of tungsten with which tin oxide is doped: 7 mass %), 36.5 parts of phenolic resin (trade name: Plyophen J-325), and 50 parts of methoxypropanol serving as a solvent were inserted into a sand mill together with glass beads having a diameter of 0.5 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed at a disc rotational speed of 2500 rpm for a dispersion treatment time of 3.5 hours to obtain a dispersion liquid. To this dispersion liquid, 3.9 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120) and 0.001 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA) were added, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution C79.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C80

A conductive layer-forming coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in the conductive layer-forming coating solution L-30 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18370. This solution was treated as a conductive layer-forming coating solution C80.


Specifically, 60 parts of titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with fluorine (volume-average particle diameter: 0.075 μm, powder resistivity: 3.0×102 Ω·cm, coating ratio of tin oxide: 15 mass %, amount (doping amount) of fluorine with which tin oxide is doped: 7 mass %), 36.5 parts of phenolic resin (trade name: Plyophen J-325), and 50 parts of methoxypropanol were inserted into a sand mill together with glass beads having a diameter of 0.5 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed at a disc rotational speed of 2500 rpm for a dispersion treatment time of 3.5 hours to obtain a dispersion liquid. To this dispersion liquid, 3.9 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120) and 0.001 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA) were added, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution C80.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C81

A conductive layer-forming coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in the conductive layer-forming coating solution 1 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18371. This solution was treated as a conductive layer-forming coating solution C81.


Specifically, 204 parts of titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus (powder resistivity: 4.0×101 Ω·cm, coating ratio of tin oxide: 35 mass %, amount (doping amount) of phosphorus (P) with which tin oxide is doped: 3 mass %), 148 parts of phenolic resin (trade name: Plyophen J-325), and 98 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol were inserted into a sand mill together with 450 parts of glass beads having a diameter of 0.8 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed under dispersion treatment conditions of rotational speed: 2000 rpm, dispersion treatment time: 4 hours, and temperature of cooling water: 18° C. to obtain a dispersion liquid. After the glass beads were removed from the dispersion liquid with a mesh, 13.8 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120) and 0.014 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA) were added to the dispersion liquid. Furthermore, 6 parts of methanol and 6 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol were added thereto, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution C81.


Preparation Example of Conductive Layer-Forming Coating Solution C82

A conductive layer-forming coating solution was prepared in the same manner as in the conductive layer-forming coating solution 10 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-18371. This solution was treated as a conductive layer-forming coating solution C82.


Specifically, 204 parts of titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tungsten (powder resistivity: 2.5×101 Ω·cm, coating ratio of tin oxide: 33 mass %, amount (doping amount) of tungsten with which tin oxide is doped: 3 mass %), 148 parts of phenolic resin (trade name: Plyophen J-325), and 98 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol were inserted into a sand mill together with 450 parts of glass beads having a diameter of 0.8 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed under dispersion treatment conditions of rotational speed: 2000 rpm, dispersion treatment time: 4 hours, and temperature of cooling water: 18° C. to obtain a dispersion liquid. After the glass beads were removed from the dispersion liquid with a mesh, 13.8 parts of silicone resin particles (trade name: Tospearl 120) and 0.014 parts of silicone oil (trade name: SH28PA) were added to the dispersion liquid. Furthermore, 6 parts of methanol and 6 parts of 1-methoxy-2-propanol were added thereto, and stirring was performed to prepare a conductive layer-forming coating solution C82.


Production Examples of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Members
Example 1
Production Example of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member 1

An aluminum cylinder (JIS A 3003, aluminum alloy) with a length of 257 mm, a diameter of 24 mm, and a thickness of 1.0 mm, which was produced by a method including extrusion and drawing, was used as a support (conductive support).


The conductive layer-forming coating solution 1 was applied onto the support by dipping in an ordinary-temperature and ordinary-humidity environment (23° C./50% RH) to form a coating film. The resulting coating film was dried and heat-cured at 140° C. for 30 minutes to form a conductive layer having a thickness of 28 μm.


The volume resistivity of the conductive layer was measured by the above-described method. The volume resistivity was 1.8×1012 Ω·cm.


Subsequently, an undercoat layer-forming coating solution was prepared by dissolving 4.5 parts of N-methoxymethylated nylon (trade name: Toresin EF-30T manufactured by Nagase ChemteX Corporation) and 1.5 parts of copolymer nylon resin (trade name: Amilan CM8000 manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc.) in a mixed solvent of methanol 65 parts/n-butanol 30 parts. The undercoat layer-forming coating solution was applied onto the conductive layer by dipping. The resulting coating film was dried at 70° C. for 6 minutes to form an undercoat layer having a thickness of 0.85 μm.


Subsequently, a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal (charge generation material) having peaks at Bragg angles (2θ±0.2°) of 7.5°, 9.9°, 16.3°, 18.6°, 25.1°, and 28.3° in CuKα characteristic X-ray diffraction was prepared. Into a sand mill, 10 parts of the hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal, 5 parts of polyvinyl butyral (trade name: S-LEC BX-1 manufactured by SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.), and 250 parts of cyclohexanone were inserted together with glass beads having a diameter of 0.8 mm. A dispersion treatment was performed for a dispersion treatment time of 3 hours. Then, 250 parts of ethyl acetate was added to prepare a charge generating layer-forming coating solution. The charge generating layer-forming coating solution was applied onto the undercoat layer by dipping. The resulting coating film was dried at 100° C. for 10 minutes to form a charge generating layer having a thickness of 0.15 μm.


Subsequently, 6.0 parts of an amine compound (charge transport material) represented by formula (CT-1) below,




embedded image



2.0 parts of an amine compound (charge transport material) represented by formula (CT-2) below,




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10 parts of bisphenol Z polycarbonate (trade name: 2400 manufactured by Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation), and 0.36 parts of siloxane-modified polycarbonate having a structural unit represented by formula (B-1) below, a structural unit represented by formula (B-2) below, and a terminal structure represented by formula (B-3) below ((B-1):(B-2):(B-3)=70:20:10 (molar ratio))




embedded image



were dissolved in a mixed solvent containing 60 parts of o-xylene, 40 parts of dimethoxymethane, and 2.7 parts of methyl benzoate to prepare a charge transporting layer-forming coating solution. The charge transporting layer-forming coating solution was applied onto the charge generating layer by dipping. The resulting coating film was dried at 125° C. for 30 minutes to form a charge transporting layer having a thickness of 10.0 μm. Thus, an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 whose charge transporting layer served as a surface layer was produced. Examples 2 to 100 and Comparative Examples 1 to 82 (Production Examples of electrophotographic photosensitive members 2 to 100 and C1 to C82)


The conductive layer-forming coating solution 1 used in the production of the electrophotographic photosensitive member was changed to each of conductive layer-forming coating solutions 2 to 100 and C1 to C82. Except for the above change, electrophotographic photosensitive members 2 to 100 and C1 to C82 whose charge transporting layer served as a surface layer were produced in the same manner as in Production Example of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. The volume resistivity of the conductive layer was measured in the same manner as in the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. Tables 6 to 9 show the results.


The electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 100 and C1 to C82 were each produced for the conductive layer analysis and for the repeated printing test.


Production Examples of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Members 101 to 200 and C101 to C182

The thickness of the charge transporting layer was changed to 5.0 μm to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member for a needle withstand voltage test. Except for the above change, electrophotographic photosensitive members 101 to 200 and C101 to C182 whose charge transporting layer served as a surface layer were produced in the same manner as in Production Examples of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 100 and C1 to C82.


Examples 1 to 100 and Comparative Examples 1 to 82
Analysis of Conductive Layer of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member

Each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 100 and C1 to C82 for the conductive layer analysis was cut into five slices with sides of 5 mm. The undercoat layer, the charge transporting layer, and the charge generating layer of each of the five slices were then removed by being dissolved with chlorobenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, and methanol to expose the conductive layer. Thus, five observation specimens were prepared from each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members.


First, the conductive layer of one of the observation specimens was sliced so as to have a thickness of 150 nm by an FIB-μ sampling method using a focused ion beam system (trade name: FB-2000A manufactured by Hitachi High-Tech Manufacturing & Service Corporation). The composition analysis of the conductive layer was then performed with a field emission electron microscope (HRTEM) (trade name: JEM-2100F manufactured by JEOL Ltd.) and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) (trade name: JED-2300T manufactured by JEOL Ltd). The measurement conditions of EDX were acceleration voltage: 200 kV and beam size: 1.0 nm.


As a result, it was confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 18, C1 to C9, C38, and C39 contained zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 19 to 30 and C10 to C16 contained zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tungsten. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 31 to 42 and C17 to C23 contained zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with fluorine. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 43 to 54 and C24 to C30 contained zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with niobium. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 55 to 66 and C31 to C37 contained zinc oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tantalum.


It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 66, C1, C2, C4 to C11, C13 to C18, C20 to C25, C27 to C32, and C34 to C37 contained uncoated zinc oxide particles.


It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 67 to 84 and C43 to C49 contained tin oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 85 to 88 and C50 to C56 contained tin oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tungsten. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 89 to 92 and C57 to C63 contained tin oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with fluorine. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 93 to 96 and C64 to C70 contained tin oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with niobium. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 97 to 100 and C71 to C77 contained tin oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tantalum.


It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 67 to 100, C38, C43, C44, C46 to C51, C53 to C58, C60 to C65, C67 to C72, and C74 to C77 contained uncoated tin oxide particles.


It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member C39 contained uncoated titanium oxide particles. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member C40 contained tin oxide particles doped with phosphorus. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member C41 contained composite particles of zinc oxide and tin oxide. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member C42 contained uncoated tin-zinc composite oxide particles. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members C78 and C81 contained titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members C79 and C82 contained titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with tungsten. It was also confirmed that the conductive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member C80 contained titanium oxide particles coated with tin oxide doped with fluorine.


Subsequently, in each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members, a portion (length: 2 μm, width: 2 μm, thickness: 2 μm) of the conductive layer of each of the remaining four observation specimens was observed by Slice & View of FIB-SEM to obtain a three-dimensional image. The P-doped tin oxide-coated tin oxide or zinc oxide and the uncoated tin oxide were identified from the difference in the contrast of the Slice & View of FIB-SEM. Thus, the volume of P-doped tin oxide-coated tin oxide or zinc oxide particles, the volume of uncoated zinc oxide or tin oxide particles, and the ratio of uncoated zinc oxide or tin oxide particles in the conductive layer can be determined. The volume and the ratio in the conductive layer in the case where the doping species with which tin oxide is doped is an element other than phosphorus, such as tungsten, fluorine, niobium, or tantalum can also be determined in the same manner. The conditions of Slice & View were as follows in the present invention.


Processing of specimen for analysis: FIB method


Processing and observation apparatus: NVision40 manufactured by SII/Zeiss


Slice interval: 10 nm


Observation conditions:


Acceleration voltage: 1.0 kV


Tilt of specimen: 54°


WD: 5 mm


Detector: BSE detector


Aperture: 60 μm, high current


ABC: ON


Image resolution: 1.25 nm/pixel


The analysis region was 2 μm in length×2 μm in width. Information of each section was accumulated, and the volumes V1 and V2 per 2 μm in length×2 μm in width×2 μm in thickness (VT=8 μm3) were determined. The measurement was performed at a temperature of 23° C. and a pressure of 1×10−4 Pa.


Note that Strata 400S (tilt of specimen: 52°) manufactured by FEI Company may also be used as the processing and observation apparatus.


The information of each section was obtained from the image analysis of areas of the identified P-doped tin oxide-coated zinc oxide or tin oxide and uncoated zinc oxide or tin oxide. The image analysis was performed using the following image processing software.


Image processing software: Image-Pro Plus manufactured by Media Cybernetics


The volume (V1 (μm3)) of the first metal oxide particles and the volume (V2 (μm3)) of the second metal oxide particles in the volume (unit volume: 8 μm3) of 2 μm×2 μm×2 μm were determined for each of the four observation specimens on the basis of the obtained information. Then, (V1 (μm3)/8 (μm3))×100, (V2 (1 m3)/8 (μm3))×100, and (V2 (μm3)/V1 (μm3))×100 were calculated. The average of values of (V1 (μm3)/8 (μm3))×100 for the four observation specimens was defined as a content (vol %) of the first metal oxide particles in the conductive layer based on the total volume of the conductive layer. The average of values of (V2 (μm3)/8 (μm3))×100 for the four observation specimens was defined as a content (vol %) of the second metal oxide particles in the conductive layer based on the total volume of the conductive layer. The average of values of (V2(μm3)/V1 (μm3))×100 for the four observation specimens was defined as a content (vol %) of the second metal oxide particles in the conductive layer based on the first metal oxide particles in the conductive layer.


The volume-average particle diameter of the first metal oxide particles and the volume-average particle diameter of the second metal oxide particles were determined for each of the four observation specimens by the above-described method. The average of the volume-average particle diameters of the first metal oxide particles in the four observation specimens was defined as a volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particles in the conductive layer. The average of the volume-average particle diameters of the second metal oxide particles in the four observation specimens was defined as a volume-average particle diameter (D2) of the second metal oxide particles in the conductive layer. Tables 6 to 9 show the results.









TABLE 6







Table 6

















Conductive

Content of
Content of
Content of second



Volume



layer-
Electropho-
first metal
second
metal oxide particles



resistivity of



forming
tographic
oxide
metal oxide
based on first metal



conductive



coating
photosensitive
particles
particles
oxide particles
D1
D2

layer


Example
solution
member
(vol %)
(vol %)
(vol %)
(μm)
(μm)
D1/D2
(Ω · cm)



















1
1
1
21
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.8 × 1012


2
2
2
20
4.3
21
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 1012


3
3
3
20
5.7
29
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.5 × 1012


4
4
4
34
0.26
0.8
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 1010


5
5
5
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.3 × 1010


6
6
6
48
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.6 × 108 


7
7
7
49
2.5
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.5 × 108 


8
8
8
33
4.8
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.5 × 1010


9
9
9
32
8.4
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.0 × 1010


10
10
10
46
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 109 


11
11
11
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.0 × 109 


12
12
12
34
1.8
5
0.45
0.20
2.3
6.0 × 1010


13
13
13
34
1.8
5
0.45
0.40
1.1
6.0 × 1010


14
14
14
34
1.8
5
0.15
0.15
1.0
6.0 × 1010


15
15
15
34
1.8
5
0.15
0.10
1.5
6.0 × 1010


16
16
16
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.3 × 109 


17
17
17
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.0 × 1011


18
18
18
20
3.5
18
0.20
0.18
1.1
1.2 × 1012


19
19
19
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.2 × 1012


20
20
20
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.0 × 1010


21
21
21
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.2 × 1010


22
22
22
47
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 108 


23
23
23
33
4.8
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.0 × 1011


24
24
24
32
8.2
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 1011


25
25
25
45
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


26
26
26
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.5 × 1010


27
27
27
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.20
2.3
7.0 × 1010


28
28
28
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.40
1.1
7.0 × 1010


29
29
29
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.15
1.0
7.0 × 1010


30
30
30
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.10
1.5
7.0 × 1010


31
31
31
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 1012


32
32
32
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.5 × 1010


33
33
33
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.7 × 1010


34
34
34
48
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.5 × 108 


35
35
35
33
4.9
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.3 × 1010


36
36
36
32
8.4
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.5 × 1011


37
37
37
45
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.0 × 1010


38
38
38
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.0 × 1010


39
39
39
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.20
2.3
6.5 × 1010


40
40
40
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.40
1.1
6.5 × 1010


41
41
41
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.15
1.0
6.5 × 1010


42
42
42
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.10
1.5
6.5 × 1010


43
43
43
21
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.5 × 1012


44
44
44
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.2 × 1010


45
45
45
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.7 × 1010


46
46
46
47
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 108 


47
47
47
33
4.9
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.8 × 1010


48
48
48
32
8.4
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.8 × 1011


49
49
49
45
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010
















TABLE 7







Table 7

















Conductive

Content of
Content of
Content of second



Volume



layer-
Electropho-
first metal
second
metal oxide particles



resistivity of



forming
tographic
oxide
metal oxide
based on first metal



conductive



coating
photosensitive
particles
particles
oxide particles
D1
D2

layer


Example
solution
member
(vol %)
(vol %)
(vol %)
(μm)
(μm)
D1/D2
(Ω · cm)



















50
50
50
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.6 × 1010


51
51
51
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.20
2.3
7.0 × 1010


52
52
52
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.40
1.1
7.0 × 1010


53
53
53
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.15
1.0
7.0 × 1010


54
54
54
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.10
1.5
7.0 × 1010


55
55
55
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.3 × 1012


56
56
56
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


57
57
57
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.3 × 1010


58
58
58
47
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.8 × 108 


59
59
59
33
4.8
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.5 × 1010


60
60
60
32
8.4
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.5 × 1011


61
61
61
45
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.0 × 1010


62
62
62
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.2 × 1010


63
63
63
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.20
2.3
6.6 × 1010


64
64
64
34
3.0
9
0.45
0.40
1.1
6.6 × 1010


65
65
65
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.15
1.0
6.6 × 1010


66
66
66
34
3.0
9
0.15
0.10
1.5
6.6 × 1010


67
67
67
20
1.4
7
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.5 × 1012


68
68
68
21
4.3
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 1012


69
69
69
21
6.2
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.5 × 1012


70
70
70
35
0.22
0.6
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.5 × 1010


71
71
71
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 1010


72
72
72
48
4.9
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.2 × 108 


73
73
73
49
2.5
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.0 × 108 


74
74
74
33
4.9
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.2 × 1010


75
75
75
32
8.4
26
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.8 × 1010


76
76
76
45
9.2
20
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.4 × 109 


77
77
77
44
13.1
30
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.2 × 109 


78
78
78
34
1.8
5
0.45
0.20
2.3
5.0 × 1010


79
79
79
34
1.8
5
0.45
0.40
1.1
5.0 × 1010


80
80
80
34
1.8
5
0.15
0.15
1.0
5.0 × 1010


81
81
81
34
1.8
5
0.15
0.10
1.5
5.0 × 1010


82
82
82
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.4 × 109 


83
83
83
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.0 × 1011


84
84
84
21
3.4
7
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.0 × 1012


85
85
85
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.2 × 1012


86
86
86
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.1 × 1012


87
87
87
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.7 × 1010


88
88
88
47
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.0 × 108 


89
89
89
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.4 × 1012


90
90
90
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.6 × 1010


91
91
91
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.0 × 1010


92
92
92
47
4.8
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.2 × 108 


93
93
93
20
1.6
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.2 × 1012


94
94
94
34
1.8
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.4 × 1010


95
95
95
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


96
96
96
48
4.9
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 108 


97
97
97
21
1.7
8
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.6 × 1012


98
98
98
35
1.9
5
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.6 × 1010


99
99
99
34
3.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.2 × 1010


100
100
100
48
4.9
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.4 × 108 
















TABLE 8







Table 8

















Conductive

Content of
Content of
Content of second



Volume



layer-
Electropho-
first metal
second
metal oxide particles



resistivity of



forming
tographic
oxide
metal oxide
based on first metal



conductive


Comparative
coating
photosensitive
particles
particles
oxide particles
D1
D2

layer


Example
solution
member
(vol %)
(vol %)
(vol %)
(μm)
(μm)
D1/D2
(Ω · cm)



















1
C1 
C1 
15
1.6
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.3 × 1012


2
C2 
C2 
52
4.8
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.5 × 108 


3
C3 
C3 
35


0.20


3.0 × 1010


4
C4 
C4 
35
0.06
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.0 × 1010


5
C5 
C5 
49
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.0 × 108 


6
C6 
C6 
28
20.0
71
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


7
C7 
C7 
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.0 × 108 


8
C8 
C8 
35
0.13
0.4
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.5 × 1010


9
C9 
C9 
31
10.7
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


10
C10
C10
15
1.6
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 1012


11
C11
C11
52
4.8
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.0 × 108 


12
C12
C12
35


0.20


3.5 × 1010


13
C13
C13
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.5 × 1010


14
C14
C14
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.7 × 108 


15
C15
C15
35
0.13
0.4
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.4 × 1010


16
C16
C16
31
10.8
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.5 × 108 


17
C17
C17
14
1.4
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.8 × 1012


18
C18
C18
52
4.8
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.7 × 108 


19
C19
C19
35
0
0
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.3 × 1010


20
C20
C20
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.3 × 1010


21
C21
C21
40
20.1
50
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.5 × 108 


22
C22
C22
35
0.14
0.4
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.1 × 1010


23
C23
C23
31
10.9
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.0 × 108 


24
C24
C24
15
1.6
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.3 × 1012


25
C25
C25
52
4.8
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.4 × 108 


26
C26
C26
35


0.20


3.7 × 1010


27
C27
C27
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.7 × 1010


28
C28
C28
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.0 × 108 


29
C29
C29
35
0.14
0.4
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.6 × 1010


30
C30
C30
31
10.9
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.7 × 108 


31
C31
C31
15
1.5
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.1 × 1012


32
C32
C32
52
4.8
9
0.20
0.20
1.1
3.3 × 108 


33
C33
C33
35


0.20

1.0
3.6 × 1010


34
C34
C34
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.6 × 1010


35
C35
C35
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.6 × 108 


36
C36
C36
35
0.13
0.4
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.4 × 1010


37
C37
C37
31
10.8
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
9.4 × 108 


38
C38
C38
34
4.8
14
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.7 × 1010


39
C39
C39
33
4.8
15
0.20
0.20
1.0
6.9 × 1010


40
C40
C40
25


0.02


3.0 × 109 


41
C41
C41
35


0.20


1.0 × 1014


42
C42
C42
20
20
1
0.20
0.20
1.0
1.0 × 1014
















TABLE 9







Table 9

















Conductive

Content of
Content of
Content of second



Volume



layer-
Electropho-
first metal
second
metal oxide particles



resistivity of



forming
tographic
oxide
metal oxide
based on first metal



conductive


Comparative
coating
photosensitive
particles
particles
oxide particles
D1
D2

layer


Example
solution
member
(vol %)
(vol %)
(vol %)
(μm)
(μm)
D1/D2
(Ω · cm)



















43
C43
C43
15
1.5
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.0 × 1012


44
C44
C44
54
5.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 108 


45
C45
C45
35


0.20


2.8 × 1010


46
C46
C46
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.8 × 1010


47
C47
C47
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.5 × 108 


48
C48
C48
35
0.1
0.3
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.2 × 1010


49
C49
C49
31
11.3
36
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.7 × 1010


50
C50
C50
14
1.6
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.4 × 1012


51
C51
C51
53
4.9
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.3 × 108 


52
C52
C52
35


0.20


3.2 × 1010


53
C53
C53
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.2 × 1010


54
C54
C54
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.9 × 108 


55
C55
C55
35
0.1
0.3
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.5 × 1010


56
C56
C56
31
10.9
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.0 × 1010


57
C57
C57
15
1.5
10
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.0 × 1012


58
C58
C58
53
5.0
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.0 × 108 


59
C59
C59
35


0.20


3.0 × 1010


60
C60
C60
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.0 × 1010


61
C61
C61
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.6 × 108 


62
C62
C62
35
0.1
0.3
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.3 × 1010


63
C63
C63
31
10.9
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
7.7 × 1010


64
C64
C64
14
1.5
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.8 × 1012


65
C65
C65
53
4.9
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.6 × 108 


66
C66
C66
35


0.20


3.8 × 1010


67
C67
C67
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.8 × 1010


68
C68
C68
40
20.2
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.5 × 108 


69
C69
C69
35
0.1
0.3
0.20
0.20
1.0
4.0 × 1010


70
C70
C70
31
10.9
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.6 × 1010


71
C71
C71
14
1.5
11
0.20
0.20
1.0
5.6 × 1012


72
C72
C72
53
4.9
9
0.20
0.20
1.0
2.5 × 108 


73
C73
C73
35


0.20


3.5 × 1010


74
C74
C74
35
0.05
0.1
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.5 × 1010


75
C75
C75
40
20.3
51
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.2 × 108 


76
C76
C76
35
0.1
0.3
0.20
0.20
1.0
3.8 × 1010


77
C77
C77
31
11.0
35
0.20
0.20
1.0
8.3 × 1010


78
C78
C78
35


0.15


3.5 × 1010


79
C79
C79
29


0.15


2.0 × 1013


80
C80
C80
37


0.08


3.5 × 1010


81
C81
C81
32


0.35


2.1 × 109 


82
C82
C82
32


0.38


4.0 × 109 










Repeated Printing Test of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member


Each of the electrophotographic photosensitive members 1 to 100 and C1 to C82 for a repeated printing test was set in a laser beam printer (trade name: LBP7200C) manufactured by CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Subsequently, a repeated printing test was performed in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment (15° C./10% RH), and the image was evaluated. In the repeated printing test, printing was performed in an intermittent mode in which a text image with a printing ratio of 2% was successively output on a single sheet of letter paper, and 3000 sheets were printed.


A sample sheet for image evaluation (a halftone image with a similar knight jump pattern) was printed before the repeated printing test, after the printing of 1500 sheets, and after the printing of 3000 sheets. The criteria of the image evaluation are as follows.


A: Image defects due to the generation of leakage are not observed on an image.


B: Small black spots due to the generation of leakage are observed on an image.


C: Large black spots due to the generation of leakage are observed on an image.


D: Large black spots and horizontal short black streaks due to the generation of leakage are observed on an image.


E: Horizontal long black streaks due to the generation of leakage are observed on an image.


Before the repeated printing test and after the printing of 3000 sheets, the charge potential (dark-area potential) and the potential upon exposure (light-area potential) were measured after the sample sheet for image evaluation was printed. The potentials were measured using a single sheet with a solid white image and a single sheet with a solid black image. The initial dark-area potential (before the repeated printing test) was assumed to be Vd and the initial light-area potential (before the repeated printing test) was assumed to be Vl′. The dark-area potential after the printing of 3000 sheets was assumed to be Vd′ and the light-area potential after the printing of 3000 sheets was assumed to be Vl′. A dark-area potential difference ΔVd (=|Vd′|−|Vd|), which was a difference between the dark-area potential Vd′ after the printing of 3000 sheets and the initial dark-area potential Vd, was determined. A light-area potential difference ΔVl (=|Vl′|−|Vl|), which was a difference between the light-area potential Vl′ after the printing of 3000 sheets and the initial light-area potential Vl, was determined. Tables 10 and 11 show the results.









TABLE 10







Table 10










Leakage














Electropho-

After
After
Potential



tographic
Before
printing
printing
difference



photosensitive
printing
of 1500
of 3000
[V]













Example
member
test
sheets
sheets
ΔVd
ΔVI
















1
1
A
A
A
+10
+10


2
2
A
A
A
+12
+30


3
3
A
A
A
+15
+35


4
4
A
B
B
+6
+15


5
5
A
A
A
+10
+10


6
6
A
A
B
+8
+10


7
7
A
A
B
+6
+10


8
8
A
A
A
+10
+20


9
9
A
A
A
+10
+30


10
10
A
A
A
+8
+20


11
11
A
A
A
+10
+35


12
12
A
A
A
+10
+10


13
13
A
A
A
+10
+10


14
14
A
A
A
+10
+10


15
15
A
A
A
+10
+10


16
16
A
A
A
+8
+10


17
17
A
A
A
+10
+10


18
18
A
A
A
+12
+10


19
19
A
A
A
+12
+10


20
20
A
A
A
+10
+10


21
21
A
A
A
+10
+10


22
22
A
A
B
+10
+15


23
23
A
A
A
+10
+20


24
24
A
A
A
+12
+30


25
25
A
A
A
+10
+30


26
26
A
A
A
+15
+35


27
27
A
A
A
+10
+20


28
28
A
A
A
+10
+20


29
29
A
A
A
+10
+20


30
30
A
A
A
+10
+20


31
31
A
A
A
+10
+20


32
32
A
A
A
+10
+20


33
33
A
A
A
+10
+20


34
34
A
A
B
+6
+10


35
35
A
A
A
+10
+20


36
36
A
A
A
+12
+35


37
37
A
A
A
+10
+30


38
38
A
A
A
+15
+35


39
39
A
A
A
+10
+10


40
40
A
A
A
+10
+10


41
41
A
A
A
+10
+10


42
42
A
A
A
+10
+10


43
43
A
A
A
+10
+15


44
44
A
A
B
+8
+10


45
45
A
A
A
+10
+10


46
46
A
A
B
+8
+10


47
47
A
A
A
+10
+20


48
48
A
A
A
+14
+35


49
49
A
A
A
+12
+30


50
50
A
A
A
+15
+35


51
51
A
A
A
+10
+20


52
52
A
A
A
+10
+20


53
53
A
A
A
+10
+20


54
54
A
A
A
+10
+20


55
55
A
A
A
+13
+30


56
56
A
A
A
+10
+20


57
57
A
A
A
+10
+20


58
58
A
A
B
+6
+15


59
59
A
A
A
+10
+20


60
60
A
A
A
+15
+30


61
61
A
A
A
+12
+30


62
62
A
A
A
+15
+35


63
63
A
A
A
+10
+20


64
64
A
A
A
+10
+20


65
65
A
A
A
+10
+20


66
66
A
A
A
+10
+20


67
67
A
A
A
+10
+20


68
68
A
A
A
+15
+30


69
69
A
A
A
+15
+35


70
70
A
B
B
+6
+20


71
71
A
A
A
+10
+20


72
72
A
A
A
+6
+15


73
73
A
A
B
+6
+12


74
74
A
A
A
+10
+20


75
75
A
A
A
+15
+35


76
76
A
A
A
+13
+30


77
77
A
A
A
+15
+35


78
78
A
A
A
+10
+20


79
79
A
A
A
+10
+20


80
80
A
A
A
+10
+20


81
81
A
A
A
+10
+20


82
82
A
A
A
+8
+20


83
83
A
A
A
+10
+20


84
84
A
A
A
+12
+20


85
85
A
A
A
+12
+20


86
86
A
A
A
+10
+20


87
87
A
A
A
+10
+20


88
88
A
A
B
+6
+14


89
89
A
A
A
+12
+20


90
90
A
A
A
+12
+20


91
91
A
A
A
+10
+20


92
92
A
A
B
+8
+10


93
93
A
A
A
+12
+20


94
94
A
A
A
+10
+20


95
95
A
A
A
+10
+20


96
96
A
A
B
+6
+20


97
97
A
A
A
+12
+20


98
98
A
A
A
+10
+20


99
99
A
A
A
+10
+20


100
100
A
A
B
+6
+10
















TABLE 11







Table 11










Leakage














Electropho-

After
After
Potential



tographic
Before
printing
printing
difference


Comparative
photosensitive
printing
of 1500
of 3000
[V]













Example
member
test
sheets
sheets
ΔVd
ΔVI
















1
C1
A
A
A
+20
+80


2
C2
A
B
C
+10
+30


3
C3
A
B
C
+15
+30


4
C4
A
B
C
+10
+30


5
C5
C
D
E
+10
+20


6
C6
A
A
A
+30
+90


7
C7
A
A
A
+25
+70


8
C8
A
B
C
+15
+20


9
C9
A
A
A
+25
+70


10
C10
A
A
A
+20
+90


11
C11
A
C
C
+10
+30


12
C12
B
B
D
+15
+30


13
C13
A
B
C
+10
+30


14
C14
A
A
A
+25
+80


15
C15
A
A
C
+15
+20


16
C16
A
A
A
+25
+70


17
C17
A
A
A
+20
+90


18
C18
B
C
C
+10
+30


19
C19
B
B
C
+15
+30


20
C20
A
B
C
+10
+30


21
C21
A
A
A
+25
+80


22
C22
A
B
C
+15
+20


23
C23
A
A
A
+25
+70


24
C24
A
A
A
+20
+100


25
C25
B
C
C
+10
+30


26
C26
B
B
C
+15
+30


27
C27
B
B
C
+10
+30


28
C28
A
A
A
+25
+80


29
C29
A
B
C
+15
+20


30
C30
A
A
A
+25
+70


31
C31
A
A
A
+20
+90


32
C32
B
C
C
+10
+40


33
C33
B
B
C
+15
+40


34
C34
B
B
C
+10
+30


35
C35
A
A
A
+25
+80


36
C36
A
B
C
+15
+20


37
C37
A
A
A
+25
+70


38
C38
A
A
B
+20
+50


39
C39
A
A
B
+20
+60


40
C40
C
D
E
+6
+10


41
C41
A
A
A
+30
+120


42
C42
A
A
A
+30
+110


43
C43
A
A
A
+25
+90


44
C44
A
B
C
+10
+30


45
C45
A
B
C
+15
+40


46
C46
A
B
C
+10
+30


47
C47
A
A
A
+25
+80


48
C48
B
B
C
+15
+20


49
C49
A
A
A
+25
+60


50
C50
A
A
A
+20
+80


51
C51
A
B
C
+10
+30


52
C52
A
B
C
+15
+30


53
C53
A
B
C
+10
+30


54
C54
A
A
A
+20
+70


55
C55
B
B
C
+15
+20


56
C56
A
A
A
+25
+70


57
C57
A
A
A
+30
+90


58
C58
B
B
C
+10
+40


59
C59
B
B
D
+20
+40


60
C60
A
B
C
+10
+30


61
C61
A
A
A
+30
+80


62
C62
B
B
C
+20
+40


63
C63
A
A
A
+30
+70


64
C64
A
A
A
+25
+80


65
C65
A
B
C
+10
+60


66
C66
B
B
C
+20
+30


67
C67
A
B
C
+10
+30


68
C68
A
A
A
+30
+80


69
C69
B
B
C
+20
+40


70
C70
A
A
A
+25
+60


71
C71
A
A
A
+30
+100


72
C72
A
B
C
+20
+80


73
C73
B
B
C
+20
+30


74
C74
B
B
C
+15
+40


75
C75
A
A
A
+30
+110


76
C76
A
B
C
+25
+60


77
C77
A
A
A
+25
+60


78
C78
A
B
B
+10
+15


79
C79
A
B
B
+10
+25


80
C80
A
B
C
+15
+30


81
C81
A
B
B
+10
+20


82
C82
A
B
B
+10
+20










Needle Withstand Voltage Test of Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member


A needle withstand voltage test was performed as follows using the electrophotographic photosensitive members 101 to 200 and C101 to C182 for a needle withstand voltage test.



FIG. 2 illustrates a needle withstand voltage tester. The needle withstand voltage test was performed in an ordinary-temperature and ordinary-humidity environment (23° C./50% RH).


Both ends of an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401 were placed on fixing stages 1402 so that the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401 was fixed. A tip of a needle electrode 1403 was brought into contact with the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401. A power supply 1404 for applying a voltage and an ammeter 1405 for measuring an electric current were connected to the needle electrode 1403. A portion 1406 that contacts a support of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401 was connected to the ground. A voltage applied from the needle electrode 1403 for two seconds was increased from 0 V in increments of 10 V. A voltage at which leakage occurred inside the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401 that was in contact with the tip of the needle electrode 1403 and a value indicated by the ammeter 1405 exceeded 10 times the original value was defined as a needle withstand voltage. This measurement was performed in five portions of the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401, and the average of the five voltages was defined as a needle withstand voltage of the measured electrophotographic photosensitive member 1401. Tables 12 and 13 show the results.









TABLE 12







Table 12










Electropho-
Needle



tographic
withstand



photosensitive
voltage


Example
member
[−V]












1
101
4500


2
102
4500


3
103
4700


4
104
3200


5
105
4000


6
106
3500


7
107
3500


8
108
4000


9
109
4000


10
110
3800


11
111
4000


12
112
4200


13
113
4200


14
114
4200


15
115
4200


16
116
4000


17
117
4200


18
118
4500


19
119
4500


20
120
4200


21
121
4200


22
122
3800


23
123
4200


24
124
4500


25
125
4200


26
126
4200


27
127
4200


28
128
4200


29
129
4200


30
130
4200


31
131
4500


32
132
4200


33
133
4200


34
134
3500


35
135
4200


36
136
4200


37
137
4200


38
138
4200


39
139
4200


40
140
4200


41
141
4200


42
142
4200


43
143
4500


44
144
3500


45
145
4200


46
146
3500


47
147
4500


48
148
4500


49
149
4200


50
150
4200


51
151
4200


52
152
4200


53
153
4200


54
154
4200


55
155
4500


56
156
4200


57
157
4200


58
158
3500


59
159
4200


60
160
4200


61
161
4200


62
162
4200


63
163
4200


64
164
4200


65
165
4200


66
166
4200


67
167
4500


68
168
4500


69
169
4700


70
170
3200


71
171
4200


72
172
3800


73
173
3500


74
174
4200


75
175
4200


76
176
3800


77
177
3800


78
178
4000


79
179
4000


80
180
4000


81
181
4000


82
182
3800


83
183
4200


84
184
4500


85
185
4500


86
186
4000


87
187
4200


88
188
3500


89
189
4500


90
190
4200


91
191
4200


92
192
3500


93
193
4500


94
194
4200


95
195
4200


96
196
3500


97
197
4500


98
198
4200


99
199
4200


100
200
3500
















TABLE 13







Table 13










Electropho-
Needle



tographic
withstand


Comparative
photosensitive
voltage


Example
member
[−V]












1
C101
4000


2
C102
2000


3
C103
2200


4
C104
2200


5
C105
1700


6
C106
3500


7
C107
3500


8
C108
2200


9
C109
2800


10
C110
4000


11
C111
2000


12
C112
1700


13
C113
2000


14
C114
3800


15
C115
2500


16
C116
3500


17
C117
4000


18
C118
2000


19
C119
2000


20
C120
2200


21
C121
3800


22
C122
2200


23
C123
3500


24
C124
4000


25
C125
2000


26
C126
2000


27
C127
2200


28
C128
3500


29
C129
2200


30
C130
3500


31
C131
4000


32
C132
1800


33
C133
2000


34
C134
2000


35
C135
3800


36
C136
2200


37
C137
3500


38
C138
3000


39
C139
3000


40
C140
1500


41
C141
4500


42
C142
4500


43
C143
4000


44
C144
1800


45
C145
2200


46
C146
2200


47
C147
3800


48
C148
2000


49
C149
3500


50
C150
4000


51
C151
2000


52
C152
2200


53
C153
2200


54
C154
3800


55
C155
1800


56
C156
3800


57
C157
4000


58
C158
2000


59
C159
1800


60
C160
2200


61
C161
3500


62
C162
2000


63
C163
3500


64
C164
3000


65
C165
2000


66
C166
2000


67
C167
2000


68
C168
3800


69
C169
2000


70
C170
3500


71
C171
4000


72
C172
2000


73
C173
2000


74
C174
1800


75
C175
3800


76
C176
2000


77
C177
3500


78
C178
2500


79
C179
2800


80
C180
2000


81
C181
2500


82
C182
2300









While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.


This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-033339, filed Feb. 24, 2014 and No. 2015-007041, filed Jan. 16, 2015, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Claims
  • 1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising: a support;a conductive layer on the support; anda photosensitive layer on the conductive layer,wherein the conductive layer comprises: a binder material;a first metal oxide particle; anda second metal oxide particle,the first metal oxide particle is a zinc oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine,the second metal oxide particle is an uncoated zinc oxide particle,a content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on a total volume of the conductive layer, anda content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.
  • 2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 1% by volume and not more than 20% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.
  • 3. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein a ratio (D1/D2) of a volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle to a volume-average particle diameter (D2) of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.7 and not more than 1.5.
  • 4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 3, wherein the ratio D1/D2 is not less than 1.0 and not more than 1.5.
  • 5. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 3, wherein the volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle is not less than 0.10 μm and not more than 0.45 μm.
  • 6. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the binder material is a curable resin.
  • 7. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein a volume resistivity of the conductive layer is not less than 1.0×108 Ω·cm and not more than 5.0×1012 Ω·cm.
  • 8. A process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the process cartridge integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1 and at least one selected from the group consisting of a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning member.
  • 9. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1;a charging device;an exposing device;a developing device; anda transfer device.
  • 10. An electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising: a support;a conductive layer on the support; anda photosensitive layer on the conductive layer,wherein the conductive layer comprises: a binder material;a first metal oxide particle; anda second metal oxide particle,the first metal oxide particle is a tin oxide particle coated with tin oxide doped with phosphorus, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, or fluorine,the second metal oxide particle is an uncoated tin oxide particle,a content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 20% by volume and not more than 50% by volume based on a total volume of the conductive layer, anda content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.1% by volume and not more than 15% by volume based on the total volume of the conductive layer, and not less than 0.5% by volume and not more than 30% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.
  • 11. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10, wherein the content of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 1% by volume and not more than 20% by volume based on the content of the first metal oxide particle in the conductive layer.
  • 12. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10, wherein a ratio (D1/D2) of a volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle to a volume-average particle diameter (D2) of the second metal oxide particle in the conductive layer is not less than 0.7 and not more than 1.5.
  • 13. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 12, wherein the ratio D1/D2 is not less than 1.0 and not more than 1.5.
  • 14. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 12, wherein the volume-average particle diameter (D1) of the first metal oxide particle is not less than 0.10 μm and not more than 0.45 μm.
  • 15. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10, wherein the binder material is a curable resin.
  • 16. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10, wherein a volume resistivity of the conductive layer is not less than 1.0×108 Ω·cm and not more than 5.0×1012 Ω·cm.
  • 17. A process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the process cartridge integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10 and at least one selected from the group consisting of a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, and a cleaning member.
  • 18. An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 10;a charging device;an exposing device;a developing device; anda transfer device.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
2014-033339 Feb 2014 JP national
2015-007041 Jan 2015 JP national
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
5171480 Yoshinaka Dec 1992 A
5484694 Lelental Jan 1996 A
5488461 Go Jan 1996 A
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20120114375 Fujii May 2012 A1
20120121291 Tsuji May 2012 A1
20150212437 Shida Jul 2015 A1
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Number Date Country
H04191861 Jul 1992 JP
H0553335 Mar 1993 JP
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Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20150241801 A1 Aug 2015 US