阅读说明：本技术 电子照相感光构件及其生产方法、电子照相设备和处理盒 (Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method for producing electrophotographic photosensitive member, electrophotographic apparatus, and process cartridge ) 是由 中田浩一 森春树 鲸井秀文 高木进司 河田功 伊藤祐斗 东隆司 于 2019-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及电子照相感光构件及其生产方法、电子照相设备和处理盒。提供一种包括支承体和在支承体上的感光层的电子照相感光构件,其中电子照相感光构件的表面层包含含有特定的空穴输送性化合物的组合物的聚合产物；以及提供包括所述电子照相感光构件的电子照相设备和处理盒。还提供一种电子照相感光构件的生产方法,其包括(i)形成作为含有特定的空穴输送性化合物的组合物的表面层用涂布液的涂膜；和(ii)通过含有特定的空穴输送性化合物的组合物的聚合反应形成电子照相感光构件的表面层。(The invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a method of producing the same, an electrophotographic apparatus, and a process cartridge. Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member comprising a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, wherein a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a polymerization product of a composition containing a specific hole-transporting compound; and an electrophotographic apparatus and a process cartridge including the electrophotographic photosensitive member. Also provided is a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, which comprises (i) forming a coating film as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing a specific hole-transporting compound; and (ii) forming a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a polymerization reaction of a composition containing a specific hole-transporting compound.)

1. An electrophotographic photosensitive member, comprising: a support; and a photosensitive layer on the support,

characterized in that the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a polymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1):

in the formula (1), R¹And R²Independently represents an alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, R³And R⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Independently represents an alkylene group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms, R¹²And R¹⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

2. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein in formula (1), R¹And R²Independently an alkyl group having 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Is a propylene group.

3. According to claimThe electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 2, wherein, in formula (1), R¹And R²Is propyl.

4. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 1, wherein the surface layer comprises a copolymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (2):

in the formula (2), R²¹And R²²Independently represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, or represents a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, wherein the substituent of the benzyl group is an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R²¹And R²²May be bonded to each other to form a ring, R²³Represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, R²⁴And R²⁵Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

5. The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 4, wherein in formula (2), R²¹And R²²At least one of which is an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms.

6. An electrophotographic apparatus, characterized in that it comprises: the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

7. A process cartridge characterized in that it integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit and a cleaning unit, and the process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus.

8. A method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, characterized by comprising:

(i) forming a coating film as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1); and

(ii) forming a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by a polymerization reaction of the composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1) in the coating film:

in the formula (1), R¹And R²Independently represents an alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, R³And R⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Independently represents an alkylene group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms, R¹²And R¹⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

9. The method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 8,

wherein (i) a coating film is formed as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing the hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1) and the compound represented by the formula (2), and

(ii) forming the surface layer by polymerization reaction of a composition containing the hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1) and the compound represented by the formula (2) in the coating film:

in the formula (2), R²¹And R²²Independently represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, or represents a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, the benzyl groupThe substituent of the radical being an alkyl radical having up to 4 carbon atoms, R²¹And R²²May be bonded to each other to form a ring, R²³Represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, R²⁴And R²⁵Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

10. The method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to claim 9, wherein a content of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) in the coating liquid for the surface layer is 50% by mass or more with respect to a total mass of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2) in the coating liquid for the surface layer.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an electrophotographic apparatus having the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process cartridge having the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a method of producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Background

Since the surface layer of an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter, also referred to as a photosensitive member) is repeatedly stressed by a series of electrophotographic processes such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, and cleaning, abrasion resistance and chemical stability are required.

As a method of improving the wear resistance, a method of introducing a curable resin in the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member may be used. However, when a surface layer having high wear resistance is provided, the surface layer is less likely to be worn, and therefore, removal accompanying wear of the surface of the chemically degraded surface layer cannot be performed, and chemical degradation is likely to accumulate on the surface. Chemical deterioration refers to a phenomenon in which a hole-transporting compound of the surface layer of the photosensitive member undergoes a chemical change by stress due to the above-described series of electrophotographic processes. Chemical changes of the hole-transporting compound sometimes cause a phenomenon (hereinafter, also referred to as smear image) in which an electrophotographic image output after repeated use under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment becomes unclear. Therefore, in order to suppress the smear image, it is necessary to suppress the chemical change of the hole-transporting compound.

As a method for improving the chemical stability of the hole-transporting compound, there is a technique of introducing an additive into the surface layer together with the hole-transporting compound. Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-11005 discloses a technique of improving a stained image by adding a specific fluorine atom-containing monomer having a polymerizable functional group to a surface layer. Japanese patent application laid-open Nos. 2007-11006 and 2016-51030 disclose techniques for containing a specific fluorine atom-containing hole-transporting monomer in the surface layer. Japanese patent application laid-open nos. 2007 and 272191, 2007 and 272192, and 2007 and 279678 disclose techniques for improving a stained image by adding a specific amine compound to a surface layer. Japanese patent application laid-open No. 2008-70761 discloses a technique of improving a stained image by adding a specific siloxane compound having a specific polymerizable functional group to a surface layer.

The techniques using the compounds of Japanese patent application laid-open Nos. 2007 & 11005, 2007 & 272191, 2007 & 272192, 2007 & 279678 and 2008 & 70761 are techniques for alleviating the above-mentioned stress exposure of the hole transporting compound, but are not techniques for improving the chemical stability as the hole transporting compound. Further, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-11006 discloses that the surface layer has a low surface energy, but does not disclose either chemical deterioration of the surface layer or potential variation when repeatedly used in a low humidity environment. The technique of japanese patent application laid-open No. 2016-51030 does not disclose suppression of potential variation during repeated use in a low humidity environment.

In order to improve the smeared image, it is necessary not only to reduce the above-mentioned stress exposure but also to improve the chemical stability of the hole-transporting compound itself. Further, there is also a need to improve potential variation when the high-durability photosensitive member is repeatedly used under a low humidity environment.

Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic photosensitive member which has abrasion resistance, suppresses image offset under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, and has small potential variation when repeatedly used under a low-temperature and low-humidity environment.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic apparatus having the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge having the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a method for producing the above electrophotographic photosensitive member.

An electrophotographic photosensitive member according to an embodiment of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, wherein a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member comprises a polymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1):

in the formula (1), R¹And R²Independently represents an alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, R³And R⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Independently represents an alkylene group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms, R¹²And R¹⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Further, an electrophotographic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, and a transferring unit.

Further, a process cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, integrally supports the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit.

Further, a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to still another embodiment of the present invention is a method for producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support and a photosensitive layer on the support, the method including:

(i) forming a coating film as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1); and

(ii) the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is formed by a polymerization reaction of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by the following formula (1) in a coating film.

In the formula (1), R¹And R²Independently represents an alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, R³And R⁴Independently represent a hydrogen atom orAlkyl having 4 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Independently represents an alkylene group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms, R¹²And R¹⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

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

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing one example of a process cartridge having an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing one example of an electrophotographic apparatus having an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating one example of a crimping pattern transfer apparatus for forming a concave portion on a circumferential surface of an electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Fig. 4A is a plan view showing the outline of the mold.

Fig. 4B is a schematic sectional view in the axial direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the convex portion of the mold (sectional view of the S-S' section of fig. 4A).

Fig. 4C is a sectional view in the circumferential direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the convex portion of the mold (sectional view of the T-T' section of fig. 4A).

Detailed Description

An electrophotographic photosensitive member of one embodiment of the present invention contains a polymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound having a polymerizable functional group in a surface layer, and the hole-transporting compound has a specific aminofluorene structure. Hereinafter, the hole-transporting compound having a polymerizable functional group having these characteristics is also referred to as the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention.

Generally, as a hole-transporting compound used in an electrophotographic photosensitive member, an arylamine compound having an excellent hole-transporting property is widely used.

The amine structure is considered to exhibit electron donating property (electron donating property), and to form a molecular orbital between aryl groups around a nitrogen atom and the like, to cause oxidation/reduction, thereby exhibiting hole transporting property of an arylamine compound. On the other hand, it is considered that the arylamine portion (moiey) is in a state susceptible to a chemical reaction or the like by actively performing charge transfer by the repeated electrophotographic process. In particular, it is considered that arylamine moieties tend to be susceptible to changes such as oxidation by the action of discharge energy in the charging step and ozone or an oxidizing material generated by a discharge phenomenon.

As a result, it is presumed that a chemical change of the arylamine moiety has been caused. In particular, it is considered that in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, a chemical change of the hole-transporting compound, generation of a discharge product, and moisture from the environment combine to cause a decrease in the resistance of the surface of the photosensitive member, resulting in an image defect such as a so-called smear image.

The present inventors have found a hole transporting compound which is capable of suppressing deterioration even by repeating an electrophotographic process and has a function of high stability and high durability, and thus have completed the present invention.

The hole-transporting compound according to the present invention has the following characteristics. The hole-transporting compound according to the present invention has a structure having an alkyl group having a specific number of carbon atoms at a specific position in the molecule. That is, in the hole-transporting compound having a fluorene structure, the hole-transporting compound has an alkyl group having a specific carbon number at the 9-position of fluorene. It is considered that by having such characteristics, the hydrophobicity of the hole-transporting compound can be improved to effectively reduce the affinity for moisture. As a result, a decrease in resistance can be suppressed.

However, when the hole-transporting compound has an alkyl group having an excessive number of carbon atoms, specific electrical properties may be deteriorated. In particular, when used continuously in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, the potential variation of the bright portion potential of the photosensitive member increases.

Along with the above-described problems, particularly in an electrophotographic apparatus that outputs a color image, a change in the hue of the image occurs while performing continuous image output from the start of printing.

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies and, as a result, have found that the above-mentioned problems can be effectively improved by using a polymerization product of a composition containing the hole transporting compound according to the present invention in the surface layer.

It is considered that since the hole transporting compound according to the present invention has an alkyl group having a specific carbon number at a position less likely to adversely affect the hole transporting function, thereby achieving both chemical stability and electrical properties, the above problem can be improved.

The hole-transporting compound according to the present invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1), and has a fluorene structure:

in the formula (1), R¹And R²Independently represents an alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms, R³And R⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R¹¹And R¹³Independently represents an alkylene group having 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms, R¹²And R¹⁴Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

The requirements necessary for the hole transporting compound according to the present invention are divided into the respective partial structures of formula (1) and described below.

In the hole transporting compound according to the present invention, R is represented by¹And R²The alkyl group having 2 or more and 8 or less carbon atoms represented is bonded to the 9-position of the so-called fluorene structure.

The fluorene structure is formed such that 5-and 6-membered rings are fused and has high planarity. On the other hand, the carbon atom located only at the 9-position of the fluorene structure is sp-forming³The carbon atoms of the orbitals are hybridized and are located in a different direction than the plane formed by the three fused rings. It is considered that due to this positional relationship, a structure in which the hole-transporting property is hardly suppressed even with a large number of carbon atoms is formed.

For the above reasons, it is assumed that the hole transporting property is not inhibited while the alkyl group having a large number of carbon atoms is present in the vicinity of the aromatic amino group of the hole transporting compound.

By the presence of the alkyl group having a large number of carbon atoms, the hydrophobicity of the hole-transporting compound can be improved, and a smeared image under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment can be improved.

In the hole-transporting structure of the above formula (1), when the alkyl group bonded at the 9-position of the fluorene structure has an excessively long carbon chain, there is a possibility of suppressing the electrical performance, and therefore, the alkyl group has 8 or less, more preferably 6 or less carbon atoms. More preferably, the alkyl group has 2 or more and 5 or less carbon atoms. Further, propyl is preferable.

It is considered that when the carbon chain of the alkyl group is excessively long, steric hindrance becomes large due to an aromatic amino group or the like, abnormality on the surface layer becomes high, and hole transportability is suppressed.

From R¹And R²Examples of the alkyl group represented include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, isopentyl, neopentyl, tert-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylpentyl, 4-methyl-2-pentyl, 3-dimethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1-methylhexyl, 4-tert-butylcyclohexyl, n-heptyl, 2-methylheptyl, n-octyl and the like.

The hole-transporting compound of the compound according to the present invention may have a structure represented by R³And R⁴Alkyl groups having 4 or less carbon atoms. By having a structure represented by R³And R⁴The alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms represented by the formula (I) improves the solubility of the hole transporting compound of the present invention and the compatibility with surrounding materials and the like. Due to the fact that R is composed of³And R⁴The represented alkyl group is directly bonded to the benzene ring of fluorene, and thus an excessively long carbon chain causes steric hindrance. Thus, from R³And R⁴The alkyl group represented has 4 or less carbon atoms. From R³And R⁴Examples of the alkyl group represented include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl and the like.

The hole-transporting compound according to the present invention is represented by the formula (1) below, and has R between a benzene ring and a polymerizable functional group¹¹And R¹³Alkylene group represented by (a).

This partial structure is considered to affect the energy value of the molecular orbital of the hole transporting compound. In particular, the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) among molecular orbitals is related to hole transportability, and having an energy value within an appropriate range is important for hole transportability.

In particular, in order to suppress variation in the bright portion potential of the photosensitive member after repeated use in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, it is important to design molecules such that the HOMO energy value of the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention can be maintained within an appropriate range.

That is, under conditions where hole injection and transport properties may deteriorate, for example, a low-temperature and low-humidity environment, injection and transport of charges from an adjacent layer can be made better by optimizing the HOMO energy value of the hole-transporting compound contained in the surface layer.

It is presumed that the hole transporting compound according to the present invention has a fluorene structure in which a conjugated structure spreads widely in a plane, and further, the HOMO energy value is in a specific range to produce a synergistic effect. Preferably, the HOMO energy value calculated by the density functional method (B3 LYP/6-31G.) of the compound represented by formula (1) is-4.9 (eV) or more and-4.7 (eV) or less.

By R in formula (1)¹¹And R¹³The alkylene group represented has 3 or more and 6 or less carbon atoms. When represented by R¹¹And R¹³When the alkylene group has 3 or more carbon atoms, the HOMO energy value of the hole-transporting compound is-4.9 (eV) or more, and it is not less than an appropriate range.

When the alkylene group has 6 or less carbon atoms, the alkyl group in the vicinity of the aromatic amine structure has an appropriate length, and hole transportability is maintained. When represented by R¹¹And R¹³When the alkylene group represented has more than 7 carbon atoms, the number of components of the alkylene chain causing steric hindrance increases, and this becomes a factor of suppressing the hole transporting property. As a result, the residual potential of the photosensitive member rises, and the potential variation in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment increases.

From R¹¹And R¹³Examples of the alkylene group represented include n-propylene, isopropylene, n-butylene, isobutylene, sec-butylene, tert-butylene, n-pentylene, 1-methyl-n-butylene, 2-methyl-n-butylene, 3-methyl-n-butylene, 1-dimethyl-n-propylene, 1, 2-dimethyl-n-propylene, 2-dimethyl-n-propylene, n-hexylene, 1-methyl-n-pentylene, 2-methyl-n-pentylene, 1-dimethyl-n-butylene, and 1, 2-dimethyl-n-butylene, and the like.

In formula (1), the substitution position of the fluorene structure of the amino group is preferably the so-called 2-position or 4-position of fluorene from the viewpoints of ease of compound synthesis and electrical properties of the photosensitive member. In particular, a structure substituted at the 2-position is preferred.

In the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is preferable that the surface layer contains a copolymerization product of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (2):

in the formula (2), R²¹And R²²Independently represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, or represents a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group in which the substituent of the benzyl group is an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R²¹And R²²May be bonded to each other to form a ring, R²³Represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, R²⁴And R²⁵Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

The compound represented by formula (2) has no hole-transporting property. When the compound represented by the formula (2) is used together with the hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1), the effect of the present invention is further improved, thereby improving a stained image in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment and a potential variation when repeatedly used in a low-temperature and low-humidity environment in a well-balanced manner.

The compound represented by formula (2) has an appropriate molecular weight and molecular size, and is presumed to have an effect of improving the denseness of the membrane containing the compound represented by formula (1) to suppress permeation of moisture into the membrane from the environment. Further, since the compound represented by formula (2) has an appropriate low molecular weight and functions to supplement the physical strength of the polymerization product, the compound has the effects of compensating film strength and improving abrasion resistance.

R²¹And R²²Independently represents an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms, or represents a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group. Examples of the substituent of the benzyl group include an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, and the like.

In order to obtain the effect of the present application, it is preferable that R is²¹And R²²Is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. The molecular weight becomes compact and the compactness of the membrane is easily improved. Further, it is preferable that R is²¹And R²²At least one of which is an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms. This makes it possible to optimally control the hydrophobicity and film denseness of the compound represented by formula (2), thereby improving the electrical properties when used on the surface of a photosensitive member.

R²¹And R²²May be bonded to each other to form a ring. When a ring is formed, examples of the ring include cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, and the like. R²³Is an alkyl group having 1 or more and 4 or less carbon atoms. From the viewpoint of obtaining the effect of the present invention, it is preferable that R is²³Is methyl or ethyl.

When the ratio of the compound represented by the formula (2) to the hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1) is too large, the charge-transporting property of the surface layer is lowered. Therefore, electrical properties deteriorate, and potential variation after repeated use increases. Therefore, it is preferable that the content of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) in the coating liquid for a surface layer is 50% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2) in the coating liquid for a surface layer.

As a method for causing the polymerization reaction of the composition, a method of imparting energy such as ultraviolet rays, electron beams, heat, or the like, or a method of allowing auxiliary agents such as a polymerization initiator, acids, bases, and complexes to coexist can be used.

From the viewpoints of the wear resistance of the surface layer and the polymerization reaction rate during polymerization, the polymerizable functional groups of the hole transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2) are acryloyloxy group or methacryloyloxy group.

Thus, R¹²And R¹⁴And R²⁴And R²⁵Independently represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Examples of the hole-transporting compound represented by the formula (1) are shown below. However, the compound is not limited to the following examples.

Exemplary Compound No.1-1

Exemplary Compound No.1-2

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 3

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 4

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 5

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 6

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 7

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 8

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 9

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-10

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 11

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 12

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 13

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-14

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-15

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-16

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-17

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-18

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-19

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-20

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1 to 21

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-22

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-23

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-24

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-25

Exemplary Compound Nos. 1-26

Further, examples of the compound represented by formula (2) are shown below. However, the compound is not limited to the following examples.

Exemplary Compound No.2-1

Exemplary Compound No.2-2

Exemplary Compound No.2-3

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 4

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 5

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 6

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 7

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 8

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 9

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 10

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 11

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 12

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 13

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-14

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2 to 15

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-16

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-17

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-18

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-19

Exemplary Compound Nos. 2-20

Representative examples of the synthesis of the compounds used in the present invention are shown below.

< Synthesis example 1>

Examples of the synthesis of hole transporting compounds having a bifunctional polymerizable acryloyl group represented by exemplary compounds nos. 1 to 7 are shown.

Reaction formula (1)

As shown in reaction formula (1), synthesis of triarylamine compounds was performed using iododine body and amine compounds. In a reaction vessel, 94.5 parts of an iodide, 34.5 parts of an amine compound in the reaction formula (1), and 80 parts of o-dichlorobenzene were mixed, 26.9 parts of potassium carbonate and 16.6 parts of copper powder were added thereto, and stirring was performed at an internal temperature of about 210 ℃ for about 24 hours to effect a reaction. After the reaction, it was filtered, washed with toluene, and concentrated to obtain a crude product.

Reaction type (2)

Subsequently, as shown in reaction formula (2), the entire amount of the crude product obtained above was used for hydrolysis of the resulting intermediate to obtain a hydroxyl group from an acetate ester. The crude product obtained above was mixed with 100 parts of tetrahydrofuran, 100 parts of methanol and 70 parts of a 24% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, heated to an internal temperature of 60 ℃, stirred, and reacted for 1 hour to perform hydrolysis. After the reaction, the reaction mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was washed with water, washed with brine, dehydrated and concentrated. Purification was performed by silica gel chromatography to give the dihydroxy intermediate. The yield was 36.9 parts and the yield (after two steps) was 53.2%.

Reaction type (3)

36.5 parts of the dihydroxy intermediate obtained by the reaction, 365 parts of toluene and 0.7 part of 4-methoxyphenol were mixed, and 11.8 parts of acrylic acid was added to the reaction vessel. 1.3 parts of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate was added, and the mixture was heated at 112 ℃ under reflux for 6 hours to conduct an acrylation reaction as shown in reaction formula (3).

After the reaction, the reaction mixture was cooled, neutralized with a 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and extracted with ethyl acetate. Water washing, dehydration and concentration were carried out to obtain a crude product.

Subsequently, the crude product was purified by silica gel column chromatography to obtain hole-transporting compounds having a polymerizable functional group represented by exemplary compounds nos. 1 to 7. The yield was 39.5 parts, 63.0%.

Further, by adjusting the type of solvent and the amount of solvent of the obtained hole-transporting compound, a varnish containing the hole-transporting compound represented by exemplary compound nos. 1 to 7 was obtained. Similarly, other hole-transporting compounds represented by formula (1) can be synthesized.

< Synthesis example 2>

An example of the synthesis of a compound having a bifunctional polymerizable acryloyl group represented by exemplary compound No.2-3 is shown.

Reaction type (4)

50 parts of 2-methylpentanal, 40.5 parts of 37% formaldehyde and 8.5 parts of benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (40% aqueous solution) are mixed in an autoclave. Nitrogen was injected to increase the pressure to 0.5MPa, and the mixture was stirred at 90 ℃ for 1 hour to effect a reaction as shown in reaction formula (4). After completion of the reaction, the reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and separated. The mixture was washed with water and concentrated to obtain about 50 parts of a colorless liquid.

Reaction type (5)

50 parts of a colorless liquid, 52 parts of trimethylolpropane and 1 part of p-toluenesulfonic acid were mixed and stirred at room temperature overnight to carry out a reaction as shown in reaction formula (5). After completion of the reaction, the reaction product was purified by column chromatography using silica gel with ethyl acetate as a mobile phase to obtain about 30 parts of a colorless oil.

Reaction type (6)

The colorless oil was subjected to dehydration condensation with acrylic acid as shown in reaction formula (6) using chloroform as a solvent, triethylamine as a catalyst, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as a dehydration condensation agent. The filtrate of the reaction product was concentrated and purified by column chromatography using silica gel with n-hexane/ethyl acetate 4/1 as a mobile phase to give a colorless liquid. Further, 4-methoxyphenol was added as a polymerization inhibitor so that the concentration after the addition was 100ppm, to obtain a compound having a bifunctional polymerizable acrylic group (acrylic group) represented by exemplary compound No. 2-3.

Similarly, other compounds represented by formula (2) can be synthesized.

The composition for forming the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the embodiment of the present invention may contain, in addition to the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention, a known hole-transporting compound having a polymerizable functional group within a range not affecting the effect of the present invention. As a known hole-transporting compound having a polymerizable functional group, an aromatic amine compound can be used.

The composition may further contain another compound having a polymerizable functional group and having no hole-transporting property. By using other compounds having other polymerizable functional groups in combination, the mechanical strength of the resulting polymerization product can be further improved.

The polymerizable functional group of the other compound having a polymerizable functional group and no hole-transporting property may be the polymerizable functional group described above. Preferred are radical polymerizable functional groups such as styryl, vinyl, acryloxy, and methacryloxy groups. More preferably an acryloyloxy group or a methacryloyloxy group.

From the viewpoint of wear resistance, the surface layer may include various fine particles. The fine particles may be inorganic fine particles or organic fine particles. As the inorganic fine particles, particles containing alumina, silica, zinc oxide, tin oxide, titanium oxide, or the like are used.

As the organic fine particles, various organic resin fine particles can be used. Examples of the organic resin fine particles include particles containing a polyolefin resin, a polytetrafluoroethylene resin, a polystyrene resin, a polyacrylate resin, a polymethacrylate resin, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, a polyurethane resin, or the like.

A method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to an embodiment of the present invention is a method of producing an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support and a photosensitive layer on the support. The production method includes (i) forming a coating film as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing a hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1). The production method further includes (ii) forming a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member by polymerization of a composition containing the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) in the coating film.

The formation of the surface layer in step (ii) may be carried out by drying and/or curing the coating film formed in step (i).

Preferably, step (i) forms a coating film as a coating liquid for a surface layer of a composition containing the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2), and

step (ii) forms a surface layer by polymerization reaction of a composition containing the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2) in the coating film.

Preferably, the content of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) in the coating liquid for a surface layer is 50% by mass or more with respect to the total mass of the hole-transporting compound represented by formula (1) and the compound represented by formula (2) in the coating liquid for a surface layer.

As the solvent used in the coating liquid for the surface layer, an alcohol-based solvent, a sulfoxide-based solvent, a ketone-based solvent, an ether-based solvent, an ester-based solvent, an aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbon-based solvent, an aliphatic hydrocarbon-based solvent, an aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvent, or the like can be used.

Examples of a method for curing a coating film of a coating liquid for a surface layer (performing polymerization of a composition containing the hole transporting compound according to the present invention) include a method using heat, light (e.g., ultraviolet rays), or radiation (e.g., electron beams). Among these methods, a method using radiation is preferable, and among the radiation, an electron beam is more preferable.

When the polymerization is carried out using electron beams, a highly dense (high density) three-dimensional network structure is obtained, and abrasion resistance is improved, which is preferable. Further, since the polymerization reaction becomes effective in a short time, productivity is also improved. Examples of the accelerator include a scanning type, an electric curtain type, a wide beam type, a pulse type, a laminar flow type, or the like when irradiating an electron beam.

When an electron beam is used, it is preferable that the acceleration voltage of the electron beam is 150kV or less from the viewpoint that deterioration of material properties by the electron beam can be suppressed without impairing polymerization efficiency. Further, the electron beam absorption dose on the surface of the coating film of the coating liquid for the surface layer is preferably 5kGy or more and 50kGy or less, more preferably 10kGy or more and 30kGy or less.

Further, when the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention is polymerized using an electron beam, it is preferable to irradiate an electron beam in an inert gas atmosphere and then heat in an inert gas atmosphere for the purpose of suppressing the polymerization inhibitory effect by oxygen. Examples of inert gases include nitrogen, argon, helium, or the like.

Next, the overall constitution of the electrophotographic photosensitive member according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

< electrophotographic photosensitive Member >

The electrophotographic photosensitive member in the present invention has a photosensitive layer over a support. Preferably, the photosensitive layer is a stacked photosensitive layer in which a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are sequentially stacked. If necessary, a conductive layer or an undercoat layer may be provided between the charge generating layer and the support, and a protective layer may be provided on the charge transporting layer.

The composition for forming the surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention. The surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the present invention refers to a protective layer when the electrophotographic photosensitive member has the protective layer, and refers to a charge transport layer if the photosensitive layer is a laminated photosensitive layer when the electrophotographic photosensitive member does not have the protective layer. The photosensitive layer may be constituted by a single layer type photosensitive layer containing both a charge generating material and a charge transporting material, in which case, when the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a protective layer, the surface layer refers to the photosensitive layer.

< support >

The support is preferably a conductive support made of a conductive material. Examples of the material of the support include metals or alloys such as iron, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, zinc, titanium, lead, nickel, tin, antimony, indium, chromium, aluminum alloys, and stainless steel. Further, a metal support or a resin support having a coating layer formed by vacuum deposition of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, an indium oxide-tin oxide alloy, or the like may be used. Further, a support obtained by impregnating plastic or paper with conductive particles such as carbon black, tin oxide particles, titanium oxide particles, or silver particles, or a support containing a conductive resin may also be used. Examples of the shape of the support body include a cylindrical shape, a belt shape, a sheet shape, a plate shape, or the like, but a cylindrical shape is most common.

The surface of the support may be subjected to a treatment such as a cutting treatment, a roughening treatment, or an alumite treatment (alumite treatment) from the viewpoints of suppressing interference fringes due to laser scattering, improving surface defects of the support, improving conductivity of the support, or the like.

< conductive layer >

For the purpose of suppressing interference fringes due to scattering of laser light or the like, controlling resistance, or scratching of the cover support, an electrically conductive layer may be provided between the support and an undercoat layer or a charge generation layer described later.

The conductive layer can be formed by applying a coating liquid for a conductive layer obtained by dispersing carbon black, a conductive pigment, a resistance adjusting pigment, and the like together with a binder resin, and drying the resulting coating film. For the coating liquid for the conductive layer, a compound that is cured and polymerized by heating, ultraviolet irradiation, radiation irradiation, or the like may be added. The conductive layer formed by dispersing the conductive pigment and the resistance adjusting pigment has a surface that tends to be roughened.

The film thickness of the conductive layer is preferably 0.1 μm or more and 50 μm or less, more preferably 0.5 μm or more and 40 μm or less, and still more preferably 1 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

Examples of the binder resin used in the conductive layer include polymers and copolymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, vinylidene fluoride, or trifluoroethylene, polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polycarbonate resins, polyester resins, polysulfone resins, polyphenylene ether resins, polyurethane resins, cellulose resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, and isocyanate resins.

Examples of the conductive pigment and the resistance adjusting pigment include particles of metal (alloy) such as aluminum, zinc, copper, chromium, nickel, silver, or stainless steel, or pigments in which these particles are deposited on the surface of plastic particles. In addition, particles of metal oxides such as zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, antimony oxide, indium oxide, bismuth oxide, indium oxide doped with tin, and tin oxide doped with antimony or tantalum may also be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

< undercoat layer >

For the purpose of improving the adhesiveness of the charge generation layer, improving the hole injection property from the support, and protecting the charge generation layer from electrical breakdown (electric breakdown), an undercoat layer (intermediate layer) may be provided between the support or the conductive layer and the charge generation layer.

The undercoat layer can be formed by applying a coating liquid for undercoat layer obtained by dissolving a binder resin in a solvent, and drying the resulting coating film.

Examples of the binder resin for the undercoat layer include polyvinyl alcohol resin, poly-N-vinylimidazole, polyethylene oxide resin, ethyl cellulose, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, casein, polyamide resin, N-methoxymethylated 6 nylon resin, copolymerized nylon resin, phenol resin, urethane resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, melamine resin, polyester resin, or the like.

The undercoat layer may further comprise metal oxide particles. Examples of the metal oxide particles include particles containing titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, zirconium oxide, or aluminum oxide. Further, the metal oxide particles may be metal oxide particles whose surfaces are treated with a surface treatment agent such as a silane coupling agent.

The thickness of the undercoat layer is preferably 0.05 μm or more and 30 μm or less, and more preferably 1 μm or more and 25 μm or less. The undercoat layer may further include organic resin particles and a leveling agent.

< photosensitive layer >

The photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member is roughly classified into (1) a laminated type photosensitive layer and (2) a single layer type photosensitive layer. (1) The stacked photosensitive layer has a charge generation layer containing a charge generation material and a charge transport layer containing a charge transport material. (2) The monolayer type photosensitive layer has a photosensitive layer containing both a charge generating material and a charge transporting material.

(1) Laminated photosensitive layer

The laminated photosensitive layer has a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer.

(1-1) Charge generating layer

The charge generating layer is formed by applying a coating liquid for a charge generating layer obtained by dispersing a charge generating material with a binder resin and a solvent to form a coating film, and drying the resulting coating film. Further, the charge generation layer may be a deposited film of a charge generation material.

Examples of the charge generating material used in the charge generating layer include azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, indigo pigments, perylene pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, thiophene pyran salts, triphenylmethane dyes, quinacridone pigments, azulenium salt (salt) pigments, cyanine dyes, anthanthrone pigments, xanthene dyes, quinoneimine dyes, styryl dyes, and the like. The charge generating material may be used alone, or two or more kinds may be used in combination. Among these charge generating materials, phthalocyanine pigments and azo pigments are preferable from the viewpoint of sensitivity (sensitivity), and in particular, phthalocyanine pigments are more preferable.

Among phthalocyanine pigments, in particular, oxytitanium phthalocyanine, chlorogallium phthalocyanine and hydroxygallium phthalocyanine exhibit excellent charge generation efficiency. Further, among the hydroxygallium phthalocyanines, from the viewpoint of sensitivity, a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal in a crystal form having peaks at bragg angles 2 θ of 7.4 ° ± 0.3 ° and 28.2 ° ± 0.3 ° in CuK α characteristic X-ray diffraction is more preferable.

Examples of the binder resin used in the charge generating layer include polymers of vinyl compounds such as styrene, vinyl acetate, vinyl chloride, acrylic ester, methacrylic ester, vinylidene fluoride, and trifluoroethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol resins, polyvinyl acetal resins, polycarbonate resins, polyester resins, polysulfone resins, polyphenylene ether resins, polyurethane resins, cellulose resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, silicone resins, and epoxy resins, and the like.

Preferably, the mass ratio of the charge generating material to the binder resin is in the range of 1: 0.3 to 1: 4, in the above range.

The film thickness of the charge generation layer is preferably 0.05 μm or more and 1 μm or less, and more preferably 0.1 μm or more and 0.5 μm or less.

(1-2) Charge transport layer

The charge transporting layer can be formed by forming a coating film of a coating liquid for a charge transporting layer in which a charge transporting material and a binder resin are mixed in a solvent, and drying the coating film. When the charge transporting layer is a surface layer, a coating liquid for a charge transporting layer as a composition for forming a charge transporting layer as a surface layer contains the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention as described above. Hereinafter, the charge transporting material and the binder resin used in the charge transporting layer will be described.

Examples of the charge transport material include carbazole compounds, hydrazone compounds, N-dialkylaniline compounds, diphenylamine compounds, triphenylamine compounds, triphenylmethane compounds, pyrazoline compounds, styryl compounds, stilbene compounds, and the like.

Examples of the binder resin include acrylate, methacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, polycarbonate resin, polyester resin, and the like. In addition, for example, curable resins such as a curable phenol resin, a curable urethane resin, a curable melamine resin, a curable epoxy resin, a curable acrylic resin, and a curable methacrylic resin can be used.

Examples of the solvent used in the coating liquid for a charge transport layer include alcohol-based solvents, sulfoxide-based solvents, ketone-based solvents, ether-based solvents, ester-based solvents, aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbon-based solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents, and the like.

When the charge transport layer is a surface layer, it is preferable that the film thickness of the charge transport layer is 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

When the charge transport layer is not a surface layer, the film thickness of the charge transport layer is preferably 1 μm or more and 100 μm or less, more preferably 3 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and still more preferably 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less.

(2) Single-layer type photosensitive member

The photosensitive layer of the single-layer type photosensitive member can be formed by preparing a coating liquid for the photosensitive layer containing a charge generating material, a charge transporting material, a resin and a solvent, forming a coating film thereof, and drying the coating film. Examples of the charge generating material, the charge transporting material and the resin are the same as those of the above-mentioned "(1) stacked photosensitive layer".

When the single-layer type photosensitive member has no protective layer, the photosensitive layer of the single-layer type photosensitive member is a surface layer in the present invention. That is, a coating liquid for a photosensitive layer as a composition for forming a photosensitive layer as a surface layer contains the hole-transporting compound according to the present invention. Preferably, the photosensitive layer of the single-layer type photosensitive member has a film thickness of 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less. When the single-layer type photosensitive member has a protective layer, the protective layer is a surface layer in the present invention. The coating liquid for a protective layer as a composition for forming a protective layer as a surface layer contains the hole-transporting compound of the present invention.

< protective layer >

The electrophotographic photosensitive member according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a protective layer on the photosensitive layer. When the electrophotographic photosensitive member has a protective layer, the protective layer is a surface layer in the present invention.

As described above, the coating liquid for a protective layer, which is a composition for forming a protective layer as a surface layer, contains the hole-transporting compound of the present invention.

Examples of the reaction method for forming the protective layer include thermal polymerization, photopolymerization, and radiation polymerization, and the like.

The protective layer may contain additives such as an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a plasticizer, a leveling agent, a sliding property imparting agent, and an abrasion resistance improving agent.

Specifically, examples of the additive include hindered phenol compounds, hindered amine compounds, sulfur compounds, phosphorus compounds, benzophenone compounds, siloxane-modified resins, silicone oils, fluororesin particles, polystyrene resin particles, polyethylene resin particles, silica particles, alumina particles, boron nitride particles, and the like.

The protective layer may contain conductive particles and/or a charge transporting material and a resin within a range not to impair the effects of the present invention.

Examples of the conductive particles include particles of metal oxides such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, and indium oxide.

Examples of the charge transport material include biphenylamine compounds, triarylamine compounds, and the like.

Examples of the resin include polyester resins, acrylic resins (acryl resins), phenoxy resins, polycarbonate resins, polystyrene resins, phenol resins, melamine resins, epoxy resins, and the like. Among them, polycarbonate resins, polyester resins and acrylic resins are preferable.

Preferably, the protective layer has a film thickness of 0.5 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

The protective layer can be formed by preparing a coating liquid for the protective layer containing the above-described respective materials and a solvent, forming a coating film thereof, and drying and/or curing the coating film. Examples of the solvent used in the coating liquid include alcohol-based solvents, ketone-based solvents, ether-based solvents, sulfoxide-based solvents, ester-based solvents, aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents, and the like.

Various additives may be added to each layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member of the present invention. Specifically, examples of the additives include organic pigments, organic dyes, coating film surface conditioning agents, electron transporting agents, oils, waxes, antioxidants, light absorbers, polymerization initiators, radical deactivators, organic resin fine particles, inorganic particles, and the like.

On the surface of each layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a surface treatment may be performed using a polishing sheet, a shape transfer member, glass beads, zirconia beads, or the like. Further, concave portions and convex portions may be formed on the surface using constituent materials of the coating liquid. When coating liquids of the respective layers are applied, any known coating methods such as a dip coating method, a spray coating method, a circle-amount-adjusting type (ring) coating method, a spin coating method, a roll coating method, a meyer bar coating method, and a blade coating method can be used.

Next, a process cartridge and an image forming process according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

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

One example of the constitution of a process cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in fig. 1. In fig. 1, a cylindrical electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is rotationally driven in an arrow direction at a predetermined peripheral speed. The circumferential surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 which is rotationally driven is uniformly charged to a positive or negative predetermined potential by the charging unit 2. Next, the charged circumferential surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 receives exposure light (image exposure light) 3 output from an exposure unit (not shown) such as slit exposure or laser beam scanning exposure. Accordingly, electrostatic latent images corresponding to the target images are sequentially formed on the circumferential surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1. As the voltage applied to the charging unit (charging roller or the like) 2, a voltage obtained by superimposing an alternating current component on a direct current component or a voltage having only a direct current component may be used.

The electrostatic latent image formed on the circumferential surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is developed by toner contained in a developer of the developing unit 4 to form a toner image. Subsequently, the toner images formed and carried on the circumferential surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 are sequentially transferred from the transfer unit 5 (transfer roller or the like) to the transfer material 6 (paper, intermediate transfer body or the like) by a transfer bias. The transfer material 6 is fed in synchronization with the rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1.

After the neutralization by the pre-exposure light 7 from a pre-exposure unit (not shown), the surface of the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is cleaned by removing the transfer residual toner by the cleaning unit 8, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 is repeatedly used for image formation. The pre-exposure unit may be before or after the cleaning step and is not necessarily required.

The electrophotographic photosensitive member 1 can be mounted on an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser beam printer. Further, the process cartridge 9 configured by storing a plurality of elements among constituent elements such as the electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, the charging unit 2, the developing unit 4, and the cleaning unit 8 in one container and integrally supporting the elements may be configured to be detachably mounted to the main body of the electrophotographic apparatus. In that

In fig. 1, a process cartridge 9 integrally supports an electrophotographic photosensitive member 1, a charging unit 2, a developing unit 4, and a cleaning unit 8, and is detachably mounted to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus.

Next, an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

An electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member according to an embodiment of the present invention, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a transfer unit.

One example of the configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in fig. 2. Yellow, magenta, cyan, black, a process cartridge 17 for yellow corresponding to each color, a process cartridge 18 for magenta, a process cartridge 19 for cyan, a process cartridge 20 for black are arranged in parallel along the intermediate transfer member 10. As shown in fig. 2, it is not necessary to unify the diameter of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, the constituent material, the developer, the charging method, and other units. For example, in the electrophotographic apparatus of fig. 2, the diameter of the electrophotographic photosensitive member for black is larger than the diameters of the electrophotographic photosensitive members for the other colors (yellow, magenta, and cyan). Further, although the charging method of other colors is a method of applying a voltage in which an alternating current component is superimposed on a direct current component, the charging method of black adopts a method of using corona discharge.

When the image forming operation is started, the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer member 10 according to the above-described image forming method. Meanwhile, the transfer paper 11 is fed from the paper feed tray 13 through the paper feed path 12, and is fed to the secondary transfer unit 14 at the timing of the rotational operation of the intermediate transfer member 10. The toner image on the intermediate transfer member 10 is transferred onto the transfer paper 11 by a transfer bias from the secondary transfer unit 14. The toner image transferred onto the transfer paper 11 is conveyed along the paper feed path 12, fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 15, and discharged from the paper discharge unit 16.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photosensitive member which has abrasion resistance, suppresses a smeared image under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, and has small potential variation when repeatedly used under a low-temperature and low-humidity environment. Further, an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with the above electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. Further, a process cartridge equipped with the above electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided. Further, a method for producing the above electrophotographic photosensitive member is provided.