Electrophotographic Photosensitive Member Ghost Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic photosensitive members suffer from ghost phenomena due to charge remaining in the photosensitive layer, leading to image defects, despite advancements in sensitivity and resolution, and existing technologies have not sufficiently addressed this issue.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating specific compounds represented by general formulas (1), (2), and (3) into the intermediate layer, which form complexes with metal oxides, improving electron flow and reducing charge retention, thereby suppressing ghost occurrences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If charge generating material with higher sensitivity is used to improve resolution and definition, then sensitivity is improved, but charge remaining in the photosensitive layer increases causing ghost phenomena
Solution Approach 1:
A charge transporting layer is introduced as an intermediary between the photosensitive layer and the intermediate layer. This layer contains a charge transporting material that facilitates the extraction and transport of remaining charges from the photosensitive layer, preventing ghost phenomena while preserving the high sensitivity characteristics of the charge generating material
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical transport parameters by introducing a dedicated charge transporting layer with specific charge transporting materials. This layer modifies the charge extraction efficiency parameter, enabling rapid removal of remaining charges without affecting the charge generation efficiency of the photosensitive layer
2Reliability
If charge transporting material is added to the intermediate layer to suppress remaining charge, then ghost phenomenon is suppressed, but the complexity of the layer structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer is segmented into two distinct functional layers: a charge transporting layer containing charge transporting material for extracting remaining charges, and a charge blocking layer containing charge blocking material for preventing charge injection from the support. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring the intermediate layer to simultaneously perform multiple conflicting functions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution effectively reduces charge retention in the photosensitive layer, enhancing image quality by minimizing ghost phenomena while maintaining sensitivity, thus contributing to the formation of high-quality electrophotographic images.
Implementation Method 1
The intermediate layer has a function of blocking charge, and serves to suppress the injection of charge from the support toward the photosensitive layer
Implementation Method 2
a photosensitive layer on the intermediate layer, in which the photosensitive layer contains an organic charge generating material and an organic charge transporting material
Implementation Method 3
an organic charge transporting material, has been used as an electrophotographic photosensitive member
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member that can suppress a ghost image while keeping its sensitivity satisfactory. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, an intermediate layer on the support, and a photosensitive layer on the intermediate layer, and the intermediate layer contains a compound having a specific structure.