Phthalocyanine Crystal Ghost Image Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrophotographic photosensitive members, particularly those using phthalocyanine crystals, suffer from positive ghost image issues due to residual photocarriers, which affect image quality, especially in color printers and copiers where the acceptable range for ghost images is narrower compared to black-and-white devices.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a specific amide compound, represented by formula (1), into the phthalocyanine crystal, which is produced through a crystal transformation process involving milling treatment, to create a phthalocyanine crystal that suppresses ghost images by canceling charge trap sites and enhancing intramolecular polarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional phthalocyanine crystals are used as charge generating material, then high sensitivity to light is achieved, but positive ghost images occur due to residual photocarriers remaining in the charge generating layer
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the phthalocyanine crystal by incorporating specific organic compounds (amides, carboxylic acids, or esters) into the crystal structure. This compositional modification alters the electronic properties of the charge generating material, enabling it to maintain high light sensitivity while simultaneously reducing residual photocarrier density to prevent positive ghost images.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite phthalocyanine crystal material by combining conventional phthalocyanine with specific organic compounds (amides, carboxylic acids, or esters) in defined weight ratios. This composite structure integrates the high sensitivity properties of phthalocyanine with the charge-trapping characteristics of the organic compounds, achieving both high sensitivity and ghost image suppression.
2Use of energy by moving object
If hydroxygallium phthalocyanine crystal is used, then sensitivity is improved, but positive ghost image problem is not sufficiently solved
Solution Approach 1:
The invention further optimizes the compositional parameters by specifying precise weight ratio ranges of the organic compounds (0.1-20% amide, 0.1-10% carboxylic acid, or 0.1-10% ester) within the phthalocyanine crystal structure. This refined parameter control builds upon hydroxygallium phthalocyanine to achieve superior ghost image suppression while maintaining sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces local quality variations within the phthalocyanine crystal by incorporating specific organic compounds at controlled concentrations and positions within the crystal structure. This localized modification of the material properties enables targeted suppression of charge trap sites responsible for positive ghost images while preserving the overall sensitivity characteristics.
3Manufacturing precision
If colorization is implemented to improve image quality, then the number of halftone images increases, but the acceptable range for positive ghost images becomes significantly narrower
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of the charge generating material to reduce residual photocarrier density by incorporating organic compounds that act as charge traps. This parameter modification enables color printers and copiers to achieve high image quality with halftone images while maintaining tight control over positive ghost image formation, expanding the acceptable quality range.
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 positive ghost images in electrophotographic photosensitive members, improving image quality by ensuring that the phthalocyanine crystal contains the amide compound within a specific mass percentage range, thereby enhancing the sensitivity and reducing image failures.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing the sensitivity and reducing image failures... by canceling charge trap sites and enhancing intramolecular polarity
Implementation Method 2
A hole that is one of carriers generated from the charge generating material used in the electrophotographic photosensitive member
Implementation Method 3
produced through a crystal transformation process involving milling treatment
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member, including a photosensitive layer that includes a phthalocyanine crystal in which a compound represented by the following formula (1) is contained:in the formula (1), X represents a vinyl group or a propyl group.