Abstract: A vapor-deposited film of selenium as a photoreceptor for electrophotography contains not more than 50 parts per million of oxygen. In producing the film, the oxygen content in the starting material selenium is controlled so that the resulting film contains oxygen within the specified range. The original oxygen content is reduced by vacuum distillation of the material selenium in a high vacuum, reduced-pressure distillation in high purity hydrogen, or preservation of the selenium shot in vacuo or in an inert gas. The starting material is obtained by mixing or melting selenium with a predetermined amount of selenium dioxide, or by carrying out vacuum distillation either of selenium at a vacuum degree of about 10.sup.-2 torr and thereby converting part of the material selenium into selenium dioxide, or of a mixture of selenium and a predetermined amount of selenium dioxide. The vacuum degree during the vapor deposition is controlled so that the oxygen content in the resulting film is 50 ppm or less.

Abstract: A vapor-deposited film of selenium or selenium alloy as a photoreceptor for electrophotography comprises selenium or a selenium alloy and phosphorus contained therein in an amount of not less the 0.5 ppm and adjusted to attain a desired contrast potential. The selenium alloy is selected from Se-Te, Se-As, Se-Bi, and Se-Sb alloys. The film is produced either by adding phosphorus to stock selenium or selenium alloy and then vacuum-depositing the phosphorus-containing selenium or selenium alloy or by simultaneously vapor-depositing selenium or selenium alloy and elemental phosphorus or a phosphorus compound.