Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a laminated body including a conductive support, a first intermediate layer on the conductive support, and a second intermediate layer on the first intermediate layer, the first intermediate layer containing a binder resin and a metal oxide particle whose surface have been treated with an organic compound, and the second intermediate layer containing a cured product having electron transportability, in which the laminated body satisfies the following expression (1): R—nV/R_0V?0.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer on the conductive substrate, wherein a layer having an outermost surface of the photoreceptor contains a polymer that is formed by polymerizing a crosslinkable charge transport material having an aromatic group and a —CH2OH group, and the layer having the outermost surface satisfies the following Formula (1): (Peak 2)/(Peak 1)?0.05??(1) wherein Peak 1 represents a peak area of an absorption peak (from about 1550 cm?1 to about 1650 cm?1) of stretching vibration of an aromatic group, which is obtained when an infrared absorption spectrum of the layer having the outermost surface is measured, and Peak 2 represents a peak area of an absorption peak (from about 1670 cm?1 to about 1710 cm?1) of an aromatic aldehyde, which is obtained when the infrared absorption spectrum of the layer having the outermost surface is measured.

Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a high sensitivity, a good balance of various electric properties such as chargeability and residual potential, a good stability of the coating solution, and an excellent light resistance. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive support having thereon a photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a group having a chiral center, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, R3 and R4 each independently represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent, or an arylene group which may have a substituent, and R5, R6, R7 and R8 each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and at least one member of R5 to R8 is an aryl group having a substituent).

Abstract: An electrophotographic photoconductor including: an electrically conductive substrate; and at least a photoconductive layer thereon, wherein the photoconductive layer contains a diazapentadiene derivative represented by general formula (1): where “X” represents general formula (a), (b) or (c); “R1” and “R2” each represent substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group or aromatic hydrocarbon group, and may be the same or different; “R1” and “R2” may be joined together via “Y” to form a ring; “Y” represents single bond, oxygen atom, —CH2CH2—, or —CH?CH—, where “R3” represents substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aromatic hydrocarbon group, alkoxy group, alkoxycarbonyl group, or halogen group; “R4” represents substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or aromatic hydrocarbon group; “n” represents integer ranging from 0 to 4; and when “n” is integer of 2 to 4, “R3” may be the same or different.

Abstract: A method of drying an organic pigment is provided which includes an under-depressurization microwave drying step of irradiating the organic pigment with microwaves under depressurization and drying the organic pigment. A method of processing a phthalocyanine pigment and a method of manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member are also provided each of which utilizes the drying method.

Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a high sensitivity, a good balance of various electric properties such as chargeability and residual potential, a good stability of the coating solution, and an excellent light resistance. An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising an electroconductive support having thereon a photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer contains a compound represented by the following formula (1): (wherein R1 represents a group having a chiral center, R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, R3 and R4 each independently represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent, or an arylene group which may have a substituent, and R5, R6, R7 and R8 each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an aryl group which may have a substituent, and at least one member of R5 to R8 is an aryl group having a substituent).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polyvinyl acetal resin having a specific repeating structural unit, an electrophotographic photosensitive member using the polyvinyl acetal resin, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer, and where the at least one charge transport layer and the photogenerating layer contain a metal mercaptoimidazole.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor which is excellent in wear resistance and electrical characteristics. Specifically disclosed is an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing a polyester resin in a photosensitive layer provided on an electroconductive substrate. The polyester resin is composed of a copolymer represented by the general formula 1 below, which has a viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) of 10,000-300,000 and contains a diphenyl ether 4,4?-dicarboxylic acid component and a bivalent phenol component. In the general formula 1, A represents a diphenyl ether 4,4?-dicarboxylic acid residue represented by the formula A below, and B represents a bivalent phenol residue represented by the formula B below. In the formula A, each of Ra1 and Ra2 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent which may have a substituent, and each of n and m is independently an integer from 0 to 4.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, and a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer provided on the support in this order. The charge generation layer contains a charge-generating material in an amount of more than 2 parts by weight and not more than 5 parts by weight based on 1 part by weight of a binder resin, and the support has a surface roughness in which a maximum height RmaxD, a 10-point average roughness Rz, an arithmetic-mean roughness Ra and an unevenness average distance Sm fulfill the following conditions: 1.2 &mgr;m≦RmaxD≦5.0 &mgr;m, 1.2 &mgr;m≦Rz≦3.0 &mgr;m, 0.15 &mgr;m≦Ra≦0.5 &mgr;m, 30 &mgr;m<Sm≦80 &mgr;m. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a photoreceptor which includes an electroconductive substrate, a photosensitive layer including a charge generation material and a charge transport material and located overlying the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer including an inorganic filler having an average particle diameter (d) and a binder resin; and an imagewise light irradiator configured to irradiate the photoreceptor with a laser light beam having a wavelength of (&lgr;) to form a light spot having a diameter (L) in the minor axis direction thereof on a surface of the photoreceptor, wherein the relationship 0.1<3.75×10−3L/&lgr;<d/&lgr;<0.5 is satisfied. An image forming method is also provided which includes irradiating a surface of the photoreceptor with a laser beam such that the above-mentioned relationship is satisfied.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a support and a photosensitive layer provided thereon. The photosensitive layer contains a carixarene compound having specific structure. Also disclosed are a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of forming images with less defects, such as ghost, while retaining a high photo-sensitivity, is provided. The photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, wherein said photosensitive layer contains a phthalocyanine pigment and an azo calix[n]arene compound represented by the formula (1) below: wherein n denotes an integer of 4-8; a number (n) of R1 independently denote a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group capable of having a substituent and including at least one alkyl group capable of having a substituent; a number (2n) of R2 independently denote a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group capable of having a substituent; and a number (n) of Ar independently denote a monovalent group selected from an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group capable of having a substituent, a heterocyclic ring group capable of having a substituent, and a combination of these groups capable of having a substituent.

Abstract: An electrophotographic photosensitive member capable of forming images with less defects, such as ghost, while retaining a high photo-sensitivity, is provided. The photosensitive member includes a support and a photosensitive layer disposed on the support, wherein said photosensitive layer contains a phthalocyanine pigment and an azo calix[n]arene compound represented by the formula (1) below: wherein n denotes an integer of 4-8; R1, R2 and R3 independently denote a hydrogen atom or alkyl group; Ar denotes an aromatic hydrocarbon ring group capable of having a substituent, a heterocyclic group capable of having a substituent, or a combination of a plurality of these groups bonded to each other directly or via a bonding group.

Abstract: A photoconductive imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and wherein said photogenerating layer is comprised of a mixture of a hydroxygallium phthalocyanine and a tetrafluoro hydroxygallium phthalocyanine.