Imaging Members With Charge Transport Layers Containing High Performance Polymer Blends

The present invention is directed to improved photosensitive imaging members. More specifically, the present invention is directed to photosensitive imaging members containing improved polymeric binders. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an imaging member which comprises a conductive substrate, a photogenerating material, a charge transport material, and a polymeric binder comprising (a) a first polymer comprising a polycarbonate, and (b) a second polymer of the formula ##STR1## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR2## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR3## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR4## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR5## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR6## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR7## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR8## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the numbers of repeating units.

The formation and development of images on the surface of photoconductive materials by electrostatic means is well known. The basic electrophotographic imaging process, as taught by C. F. Carlson in U.S. Pat. No. 2,297,691, entails placing a uniform electrostatic charge on a photoconductive imaging member, exposing the imaging member to a light and shadow image to dissipate the charge on the areas of the imaging member exposed to the light, and developing the resulting electrostatic latent image by depositing on the image a finely divided electroscopic material known as toner. The toner will normally be attracted to those areas of the imaging member which retain a charge, thereby forming a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image. This developed image may then be transferred to a substrate such as paper. The transferred image may subsequently be permanently affixed to the substrate by heat, pressure, a combination of heat and pressure, or other suitable fixing means such as solvent or overcoating treatment.

Imaging members for electrophotographic imaging systems comprising selenium alloys vacuum deposited on substrates are known. Imaging members have also been prepared by coating substrates with photoconductive particles dispersed in an organic film forming binder. Coating of rigid drum substrates has been effected by various techniques such as spraying, dip coating, vacuum evaporation, and the like. Flexible imaging members can also be manufactured by processes that entail coating a flexible substrate with the desired photoconducting material.

Some photoresponsive imaging members consist of a homogeneous layer of a single material such as vitreous selenium, and others comprise composite layered devices containing a dispersion of a photoconductive composition. An example of a composite xerographic photoconductive member is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,006, which discloses finely divided particles of a photoconductive inorganic compound dispersed in an electrically insulating organic resin binder. Imaging members prepared according to the teachings of this patent contain a binder layer with particles of zinc oxide uniformly dispersed therein coated on a paper backing. The binders disclosed in this patent include materials such as polycarbonate resins, polyester resins, polyamide resins, and the like.

Photoreceptor materials comprising inorganic or organic materials wherein the charge generating and charge transport functions are performed by discrete contiguous layers are also known. Additionally, layered photoreceptor members are disclosed in the prior art, including photoreceptors having an overcoat layer of an electrically insulating polymeric material. Other layered photoresponsive devices have been disclosed, including those comprising separate photogenerating layers and charge transport layers as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Photoresponsive materials containing a hole injecting layer overcoated with a hole transport layer, followed by an overcoating of a photogenerating layer, and a top coating of an insulating organic resin, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,612, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Examples of photogenerating layers disclosed in these patents include trigonal selenium and phthalocyanines, while examples of transport layers include certain aryl diamines as illustrated therein.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,167 discloses an overcoated imaging member containing a conductive substrate, a photoconductive layer, and an overcoating layer of an electrically insulating polymeric material. This member can be employed in electrophotographic imaging processes by initially charging the member with an electrostatic charge of a first polarity, followed by exposing it to form an electrostatic latent image that can subsequently be developed to form a visible image.

Japanese Patent Publication 63-247757 A2, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an electrophotographic photosensitive body consisting of a body in which a photoconductive layer laminated on a conductive support contains a charge generating substance and/or a charge transporting substance, and at least one polyether ketone polymer consisting of structural units which can be expressed by the following general formulae (I) and (II) ##STR9## wherein m is 0 or 1 and Ar indicates ##STR10## wherein R is an alkyl group, n is 0, 1, or 2, and X indicates ##STR11## with R' and R" each independently indicating --H, --CH.sub.3, --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, ##STR12## wherein the proportion of structural units in the polymer expressed by the general formula (I) is from 0.1 to 1.0 and the proportion of structural units in the polymer expressed by the general formula (II) is 0 to 0.9.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,577 (Spiewak et al.), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses a thick organic ambipolar layer on a photoresponsive device which is simultaneously capable of charge generation and charge transport. In particular, the organic photoresponsive layer contains an electron transport material such as a fluorenylidene malonitrile derivative and a hole transport material such as a dihydroxy tetraphenyl benzadine containing polymer. These may be complexed to provide photoresponsivity, and/or a photoresponsive pigment or dye may also be included.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,517 (Frechet et al.), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an electrostatographic imaging member and an electrophotographic imaging process for using the imaging member in which the imaging member comprises a substrate and at least one electroconductive layer, the imaging member comprising a polymeric arylamine compound represented by the formula ##STR13## wherein n is between about 5 and 5,000, m is 0 or 1, Z is selected from certain specified aromatic and fused ring groups, Ar is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, R is selected from certain specified alkyl groups, Ar' is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, and R' and R" are independently selected from certain specified alkylene groups.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,443 (Yanus et al.), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an electrostatographic imaging member and an electrophotographic imaging process for using the imaging member in which the imaging member comprises a substrate and an electroconductive layer, the imaging member comprising a polymeric acrylamine compound represented by the formula ##STR14## wherein n is between 5 and about 5,000, m is 0 or 1, y is 1, 2, or 3, Z is selected from certain specified aromatic and fused ring groups, Ar is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, Ar' is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, and X' is an alkylene radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene and isoalkylene groups containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms. The imaging member may comprise a substrate, charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,444 (Yanus et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,487 (Yanus et al.), the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, disclose an electrostatographic imaging member and an electrophotographic imaging process for using the imaging member in which the imaging member comprises a substrate and an electroconductive layer, the imaging member comprising a polymeric arylamine compound represented by the formula ##STR15## wherein n is between about 5 and about 5,000, m is 0 or 1, Z is selected from certain specified aromatic and fused ring groups, Ar is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, and Ar' is selected from certain specified aromatic groups. The imaging member may comprise a substrate, charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,650 (Limburg et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,440 (Limburg et al.), the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, disclose an electrostatographic imaging member and an electrophotographic imaging process for using the imaging member in which the imaging member comprises a substrate and at least one electroconductive layer, the imaging member comprising a polymeric arylamine compound represented by the formula ##STR16## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of --H, --CH.sub.3, and --C.sub.2 H.sub.5, m is between about 4 and about 1,000, A is selected from the group consisting of an arylamine group represented by the formula ##STR17## wherein m is 0 or 1, Z is selected from certain specified aromatic and fused ring groups that also contain an oxygen or sulfur atom, certain linear or cyclic hydrocarbon groups, and certain amine groups, Ar is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, Ar' is selected from certain specified aromatic groups, and B is selected from the group consisting of the arylamine group as defined for A and

wherein Ar is as defined above and V is selected from an oxygen or sulfur atom, certain linear or cyclic hydrocarbon groups, or a phenylene group, and at least A or B contains the arylamine group. The imaging member may comprise a substrate, charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,532 (Limburg et al.), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an electrostatographic imaging member comprising a support layer and at least one electrophotoconductive layer, said imaging member comprising a polyarylamine polymer represented by the formula ##STR18## wherein n is between about 5 and about 5,000, or 0 if p>0, o is between about 9 and about 5,000, or is 0 if p>0 or n=0, p is between about 2 and about 100, or is 0 if n>0, X' and X" are independently selected from a group having bifunctional linkages, Q is a divalent group derived from certain hydroxy terminated arylamine reactants, Q' is a divalent group derived from a hydroxy terminated polyarylamine containing the group defined for Q and having a weight average molecular weight between about 1,000 and about 80,000, and the weight average molecular weight of the polyarylamine polymer is between about 10,000 and about 1,000,000.

Copending application U.S. Ser. No. 08/976,004, filed concurrently herewith, with the named inventors Timothy J. Fuller, Leon A. Teuscher, John F. Yanus, Damodar M. Pai, Kathleen M. Carmichael, Edward F. Grabowski, and Paul F. Zukoski, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,426, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an imaging member which comprises a conductive substrate, a photogenerating material, and a binder comprising a polymer selected from (a) those of the formulae ##STR19## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR20## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR21## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR22## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR23## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR24## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR25## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR26## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units; (b) those of the formulae ##STR27## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR28## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR29## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR30## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR31## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR32## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR33## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR34## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units; (c) those of formulae I, III, IV, VII, or VIII wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR35## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR36## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR37## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR38## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR39## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR40## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units; (d) those of formulae I, III, IV, VII, and VIII wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR41## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR42## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR43## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR44## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR45## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR46## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units; or (e) those of formulae I, III, IV, VII, and VIII wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR47## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR48## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR49## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR50## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR51## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR52## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units.

Copending application U.S. Ser. No. 08/976,238, filed concurrently herewith, with the named inventors Timothy J. Fuller, Leon A. Teuscher, Damodar M. Pai, and John F. Yanus, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, discloses an imaging member which comprises a conductive substrate, a photogenerating material, and a polymer of the formula ##STR53## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR54## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR55## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR56## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR57## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR58## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR59## wherein (1) Z is ##STR60## wherein p is 0 or 1; (2) Ar is ##STR61## (3) G is an alkyl group selected from alkyl or isoalkyl groups containing from about 2 to about 10 carbon atoms; (4) Ar' is ##STR62## wherein s is 0, 1, or 2, ##STR63## and (6) q is 0 or 1; or mixtures thereof, wherein at least some of the "B" groups are of the formula ##STR64## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units.

Generally the charge transport layer of a dual layer organic photoconductor employed in electrophotography consists of charge transport molecules dispersed in a single polymeric binder. Almost invariably, the binder of choice has been polycarbonate. Most transport molecules employed in the art disperse very well in polycarbonate and the devices containing transport layers of polycarbonate dispersed with molecules can be cycled for tens of thousands of cycles without any residual cycle-up caused by charge trapping in the transport layer. Phase separation of the molecules in the binder can lead to charge trapping and that can cause residual cycle-up. It would be advantageous to have a blend of two binders in which the charge transport molecules are dispersed. If the blend of polymers can be accomplished without phase separation, then it would be possible to tailor many properties of the dual layer device. The properties that can be improved include adhesion to the generator layer and the surface properties that affect the release properties, enabling easier transfer of the developed image and easy cleaning of the remaining toner particles. To be able to employ blends of polymers as binders for the transport layers, the two polymers should be compatible and should not phase separate. In addition, the charge transport molecules should disperse without phase separation in each one of the binders and in the blend of the two polymers.

While known compositions and processes are suitable for their intended purposes, a need remains for improved photosensitive imaging members. A need also remains for improved binders for photosensitive imaging members. In addition, there is a need for polymeric binders suitable for use in photogenerating layers in imaging members. Further, a need remains for polymeric binders suitable for use in charge transport layers in imaging members. Additionally, there is a need for polymeric binders with high glass transition temperatures. There is also a need for polymeric binders which enable the incorporation of high loadings of charge transport materials and/or plasticizers therein. In addition, a need remains for polymeric binders which exhibit good film properties and good adhesion to imaging member substrates. Further, a need remains for polymeric binders for imaging members which have high resistance to a wide variety of solvents. Additionally, a need remains for polymeric binders suitable for charge transport layers in imaging members which enable incorporation of charge transport materials such as N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3"-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine in the layer in amounts of 50 percent by weight and higher without resulting in severe plasticization. There is also a need for polymeric binders which can be coated onto photosensitive imaging members from a wide variety of solvents. Further, a need remains for polymeric binders in which charge transport molecules exhibit reduced or eliminated tendency to crystallize. In addition, there is a need for polymeric binders which have a reduced tendency to crystallize compared to widely used photoreceptor binder polymers. There is also a need for abrasion resistant and wear resistant photoconductive imaging members. Further, there is a need for photoconductive imaging members which are flat after oven drying. Additionally, there is a need for polymeric binders and transport polymers with improved wear and abrasion resistance compared to known polymers commonly used in photoconductive imaging members. A need also remains for photoconductive imaging members which are curl-free and stress-free after removal of coating solvents. In addition, a need remains for polymers suitable for use as adhesive layer materials in photoconductive imaging members. Further, a need remains for polymers suitable for use as protective overcoating layer materials in photoconductive imaging members. Additionally, a need remains for imaging members containing polymeric binders wherein the advantages of the commonly used polycarbonate binder materials, such as cost effectiveness, desirable mechanical characteristics, and the like, can be retained while also enabling additional advantages such as the ability to tailor the degree of adhesion between layers, the ability to tailor the surface properties of layers, increased solvent resistance, and the like, wherein these advantages are obtained by blending with the polycarbonate a second polymer which admixes well with the polycarbonate and exhibits little or no phase separation when admixed with the polycarbonate. There is also a need for imaging members containing polymeric binders comprising polymer blends which enable incorporation of charge transport molecules without causing charge trapping.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved photosensitive imaging members with the above noted advantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved binders for photosensitive imaging members.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders suitable for use in photogenerating layers in imaging members.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders suitable for use in charge transport layers in imaging members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide polymeric binders with high glass transition temperatures.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide polymeric binders which enable the incorporation of high loadings of charge transport materials and/or plasticizers therein.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide polymeric binders which exhibit good film properties and good adhesion to imaging member substrates.

It is another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders for imaging members which have high resistance to a wide variety of solvents.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders suitable for charge transport layers in imaging members which enable incorporation of charge transport materials such as N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3"-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine in the layer in amounts of 50 percent by weight and higher without resulting in severe plasticization.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders which can be coated onto photosensitive imaging members from a wide variety of solvents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide polymeric binders in which charge transport molecules exhibit reduced or eliminated tendency to crystallize.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide polymeric binders which have a reduced tendency to crystallize compared to widely used photoreceptor binder polymers.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide abrasion resistant and wear resistant photoconductive imaging members.

It is another object of the present invention to provide photoconductive imaging members which are flat after oven drying.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide polymeric binders and transport polymers with improved wear and abrasion resistance compared to known polymers commonly used in photoconductive imaging members.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide photoconductive imaging members which are curl-free and stress-free after removal of coating solvents.

Another object of the present invention is to provide polymers suitable for use as adhesive layer materials in photoconductive imaging members.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide polymers suitable for use as protective overcoating layer materials in photoconductive imaging members.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide imaging members containing polymeric binders wherein the advantages of the commonly used polycarbonate binder materials, such as cost effectiveness, desirable mechanical characteristics, and the like, can be retained while also enabling additional advantages such as the ability to tailor the degree of adhesion between layers, the ability to tailor the surface properties of layers, increased solvent resistance, and the like, wherein these advantages are obtained by blending with the polycarbonate a second polymer which admixes well with the polycarbonate and exhibits little or no phase separation when admixed with the polycarbonate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide imaging members containing polymeric binders comprising polymer blends which enable incorporation of charge transport molecules without causing charge trapping.

These and other objects of the present invention (or specific embodiments thereof) can be achieved by providing an imaging member which comprises a conductive substrate, a photogenerating material, a charge transport material, and a polymeric binder comprising (a) a first polymer comprising a polycarbonate, and (b) a second polymer of the formula ##STR65## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR66## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR67## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR68## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, ##STR69## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR70## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, ##STR71## or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR72## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, an aryl group, an arylalkyl group, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the numbers of repeating units.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views of examples of photoconductive imaging members of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically one embodiment of the imaging members of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a photoconductive imaging member comprising a conductive substrate 1, a photogenerating layer 3 comprising a photogenerating compound 2 dispersed in a resinous binder composition 4, and a charge transport layer 5, which comprises a charge transporting molecule 7 dispersed in a resinous binder composition 9. At least one of the resinous binder compositions 4 and 9 comprises a blend of a polycarbonate and a polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically essentially the same member as that shown in FIG. 1 with the exception that the charge transport layer is situated between the conductive substrate and the photogenerating layer. More specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a photoconductive imaging member comprising a conductive substrate 21, a charge transport layer 23 comprising a charge transport composition 24 dispersed in a resinous binder composition 25, and a photogenerating layer 27 comprising a photogenerating compound 28 dispersed in a resinous binder composition 29. At least one of the resinous binder compositions 25 and 29 comprises a blend of a polycarbonate and a polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a photoconductive imaging member of the present invention comprising a conductive substrate 31, an optional charge blocking metal oxide layer 33, an optional adhesive layer 35, a photogenerating layer 37 comprising a photogenerating compound 37a dispersed in a resinous binder composition 37b, a charge transport layer 39 comprising a charge transport compound 39a dispersed in a resinous binder 39b, an optional anticurl backing layer 36, and an optional protective overcoating layer 38. At least one of the layers 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 comprises a blend of a polycarbonate and a polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a photoconductive imaging member of the present invention comprising a conductive substrate 41 and a photogenerating layer 43 comprising a photogenerating compound 42 dispersed in a resinous binder composition 44. Resinous binder composition 44 comprises a mixture of a polycarbonate and a polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein. Optionally, a charge transport material 45 can also be dispersed in binder 44.

The substrate can be formulated entirely of an electrically conductive material, or it can be an insulating material having an electrically conductive surface. The substrate is of an effective thickness, generally up to about 100 mils, and preferably from about 1 to about 50 mils, although the thickness can be outside of this range. The thickness of the substrate layer depends on many factors, including economic and mechanical considerations. Thus, this layer may be of substantial thickness, for example over 100 mils, or of minimal thickness provided that there are no adverse effects on the system. Similarly, the substrate can be either rigid or flexible. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the thickness of this layer is from about 3 mils to about 10 mils. For flexible belt imaging members, preferred substrate thicknesses are from about 65 to about 150 microns, and more preferably from about 75 to about 100 microns for optimum flexibility and minimum stretch when cycled around small diameter rollers of, for example, 19 millimeter diameter.

The substrate can be opaque or substantially transparent and can comprise numerous suitable materials having the desired mechanical properties. The entire substrate can comprise the same material as that in the electrically conductive surface or the electrically conductive surface can be merely a coating on the substrate. Any suitable electrically conductive material can be employed. Typical electrically conductive materials include copper, brass, nickel, zinc, chromium, stainless steel, conductive plastics and rubbers, aluminum, semitransparent aluminum, steel, cadmium, silver, gold, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, halfnium, titanium, nickel, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, paper rendered conductive by the inclusion of a suitable material therein or through conditioning in a humid atmosphere to ensure the presence of sufficient water content to render the material conductive, indium, tin, metal oxides, including tin oxide and indium tin oxide, and the like. The conductive layer can vary in thickness over substantially wide ranges depending on the desired use of the electrophotoconductive member. Generally, the conductive layer ranges in thickness from about 50 Angstroms to many centimeters, although the thickness can be outside of this range. When a flexible electrophotographic imaging member is desired, the thickness of the conductive layer typically is from about 20 Angstroms to about 750 Angstroms, and preferably from about 100 to about 200 Angstroms for an optimum combination of electrical conductivity, flexibility, and light transmission. When the selected substrate comprises a nonconductive base and an electrically conductive layer coated thereon, the substrate can be of any other conventional material, including organic and inorganic materials. Typical substrate materials include insulating non-conducting materials such as various resins known for this purpose including polycarbonates, polyamides, polyurethanes, paper, glass, plastic, polyesters such as Mylar (available from Du Pont) or Melinex 447 (available from ICI Americas, Inc.), and the like. The conductive layer can be coated onto the base layer by any suitable coating technique, such as vacuum deposition or the like. If desired, the substrate can comprise a metallized plastic, such as titanized or aluminized Mylar, wherein the metallized surface is in contact with the photogenerating layer or any other layer situated between the substrate and the photogenerating layer. The coated or uncoated substrate can be flexible or rigid, and can have any number of configurations, such as a plate, a cylindrical drum, a scroll, an endless flexible belt, or the like. The outer surface of the substrate may comprise a metal oxide such as aluminum oxide, nickel oxide, titanium oxide, or the like.

The photoconductive imaging member may optionally contain a charge blocking layer situated between the conductive substrate and the photogenerating layer. Generally, electron blocking layers for positively charged photoreceptors allow holes from the imaging surface of the photoreceptor to migrate toward the conductive layer, while hole blocking layers for negatively charged photoreceptors allow electrons from the imaging surface of the photoreceptor to migrate toward the conductive layer. This layer may comprise metal oxides, such as aluminum oxide and the like, or materials such as silanes and nylons, nitrogen containing siloxanes or nitrogen containing titanium compounds such as trimethoxysilyl propylene diamine, hydrolyzed trimethoxysilyl propyl ethylene diamine, N-beta-(aminoethyl) gamma-amino-propyl trimethoxy silane, isopropyl 4-aminobenzene sulfonyl, di(dodecylbenzene sulfonyl) titanate, isopropyl di(4-aminobenzoyl)isostearoyl titanate, isopropyl tri(N-ethylamino-ethylamino)titanate, isopropyl trianthranil titanate, isopropyl tri(N,N-dimethyl-ethylamino)titanate, titanium-4-amino benzene sulfonate oxyacetate, titanium 4-aminobenzoate isostearate oxyacetate, ›H.sub.2 N(CH.sub.2).sub.4 !CH.sub.3 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.2, (gamma-aminobutyl) methyl diethoxysilane, and ›H.sub.2 N(CH.sub.2).sub.3 !CH.sub.3 Si(OCH.sub.3).sub.2 (gamma-aminopropyl) methyl diethoxysilone, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,291,110, 4,338,387, 4,286,033 and 4,291,110, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, or the like. Additional examples of suitable materials include gelatin (e.g. Gelatin 225, available from Knox Gelatine Inc.), and/or Carboset 515 (B. F. Goodrich Chemical Company) dissolved in water and methanol, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamides, gamma-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, polyisobutyl methacrylate, copolymers of styrene and acrylates such as styrene/n-butyl methacrylate, copolymers of styrene and vinyl toluene, polycarbonates, alkyl substituted polystyrenes, styrene-olefin copolymers, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyterpenes, silicone elastomers, mixtures or blends thereof, copolymers thereof, and the like. A preferred blocking layer comprises a reaction product between a hydrolyzed silane and the oxidized surface of a metal ground plane layer. The oxidized surface inherently forms on the outer surface of most metal ground plane layers when exposed to air after deposition. The primary purpose of this layer is to prevent charge injection from the substrate during and after charging. This layer is typically of a thickness of less than 50 Angstroms to about 10 microns, preferably being no more than about 2 microns, and more preferably being no more than about 0.2 microns, although the thickness can be outside these ranges.

The blocking layer may be applied by any suitable conventional technique such as spraying, dip coating, draw bar coating, gravure coating, silk screening, air knife coating, reverse roll coating, vacuum deposition, chemical treatment or the like. For convenience in obtaining thin layers, the blocking layers are preferably applied in the form of a dilute solution, with the solvent being removed after deposition of the coating by conventional techniques such as by vacuum, heating and the like.

In some cases, intermediate adhesive layers between the substrate and subsequently applied layers may be desirable to improve adhesion. If such adhesive layers are utilized, they preferably have a dry thickness of from about 0.1 micron to about 5 microns, although the thickness can be outside of this range. Typical adhesive layers include film-forming polymers such as polyesters, polyvinylbutyrals, polyvinylpyrrolidones, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, polymethylmethacrylates, duPont 49,000 (available from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company), Vitel PE100 (available from Goodyear Tire & Rubber), and the like as well as mixtures thereof. The high performance polymers of the present invention can also be employed in the adhesive layer of the imaging member, either alone or in combination with other materials. Since the surface of the substrate can be a charge blocking layer or an adhesive layer, the expression "substrate" as employed herein is intended to include a charge blocking layer with or without an adhesive layer on a charge blocking layer. Typical adhesive layer thicknesses are from about 0.05 micron (500 angstroms) to about 0.3 micron (3,000 angstroms), although the thickness can be outside this range. Conventional techniques for applying an adhesive layer coating mixture to the substrate include spraying, dip coating, roll coating, wire wound rod coating, gravure coating, Bird bar applicator coating, or the like. Drying of the deposited coating may be effected by any suitable conventional technique, such as oven drying, infra red radiation drying, air drying, or the like.

Optionally, an overcoat layer can also be utilized to improve resistance to abrasion. In some cases an anticurl back coating may be applied to the surface of the substrate opposite to that bearing the photoconductive layer to provide flatness and/or abrasion resistance where a web configuration photoreceptor is fabricated. These overcoating and anticurl back coating layers are well known in the art, and can comprise thermoplastic organic polymers or inorganic polymers that are electrically insulating or slightly semiconductive. Overcoatings are continuous and typically have a thickness of less than about 10 microns, although the thickness can be outside this range. The thickness of anticurl backing layers generally is sufficient to balance substantially the total forces of the layer or layers on the opposite side of the substrate layer. An example of an anticurl backing layer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,284, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. A thickness of from about 70 to about 160 microns is a typical range for flexible photoreceptors, although the thickness can be outside this range. Polymers of the formulae indicated hereinbelow are also suitable for use as overcoat layers and anticurl back coating layers.

The photogenerating layer may comprise single or multiple layers comprising inorganic or organic compositions and the like. One example of a generator layer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,006, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, wherein finely divided particles of a photoconductive inorganic compound are dispersed in an electrically insulating organic resin binder. Multi-photogenerating layer compositions may be utilized where a photoconductive layer enhances or reduces the properties of the photogenerating layer. Examples of this type of configuration are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,639, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Further examples of photosensitive members having at least two electrically operative layers include the charge generator layer and diamine containing transport layer members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,384, U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,008, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,897, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference; dyestuff generator layer and oxadiazole, pyrazalone, imidazole, bromopyrene, nitrofluorene and nitronaphthalimide derivative containing charge transport layers members, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,944, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference; generator layer and hydrazone containing charge transport layers members, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,987, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference; generator layer and a tri-aryl pyrazoline compound containing charge transport layer members, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,851, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference; and the like.

The photogenerating or photoconductive layer contains any desired or suitable photoconductive material. The photoconductive layer or layers may contain inorganic or organic photoconductive materials. Typical inorganic photoconductive materials include amorphous selenium, trigonal selenium, alloys of selenium with elements such as tellurium, arsenic, and the like, amorphous silicon, cadmium sulfoselenide, cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide and the like. Inorganic photoconductive materials can, if desired, be dispersed in a film forming polymer binder.

Typical organic photoconductors include various phthalocyanine pigments, such as the X-form of metal free phthalocyanine described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,989, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, metal phthalocyanines such as vanadyl phthalocyanine, copper phthalocyanine, and the like, quinacridones, including those available from DuPont as Monastral Red, Monastral Violet and Monastral Red Y, substituted 2,4-diamino-triazines as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,781, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, polynuclear aromatic quinones, Indofast Violet Lake B, Indofast Brilliant Scarlet, Indofast Orange, dibromoanthanthrones such as those available from DuPont as Vat orange 1 and Vat orange 3, squarylium, pyrazolones, polyvinylcarbazole-2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, anthracene, benzimidazole perylene, polynuclear aromatic quinones available from Allied Chemical Corporation under the tradename Indofast Double Scarlet, Indofast Violet Lake B, Indofast Brilliant Scarlet and Indofast Orange, and the like. Many organic photoconductor materials may also be used as particles dispersed in a resin binder.

Examples of suitable binders for the photoconductive materials include thermoplastic and thermosetting resins such as polycarbonates, polyesters, including polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polybutadienes, polysulfones, polyarylethers, polyarylsulfones, polyethersulfones, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polymethylpentenes, polyphenylene sulfides, polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylbutyrals, polysiloxanes, polyacrylates, polyvinyl acetals, polyamides, polyimides, amino resins, phenylene oxide resins, terephthalic acid resins, phenoxy resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, polystyrene and acrylonitrile copolymers, polyvinylohlorides, polyvinyl alcohols, poly-(N-vinylpyrrolidinone)s, vinylchloride and vinyl acetate copolymers, acrylate copolymers, alkyd resins, cellulosic film formers, poly(amideimide), styrene-butadiene copolymers, vinylidenechloride-vinylchloride copolymers, vinylacetate-vinylidenechloride copolymers, styrene-alkyd resins, polyvinylcarbazoles, and the like. These polymers may be block, random or alternating copolymers. The high performance polymers of the present invention can also be employed in the photoconductive layer of the imaging member, either alone or in combination with other materials.

When the photogenerating material is present in a binder material, the photogenerating composition or pigment may be present in the film forming polymer binder compositions in any suitable or desired amounts. For example, from about 10 percent by volume to about 60 percent by volume of the photogenerating pigment may be dispersed in about 40 percent by volume to about 90 percent by volume of the film forming polymer binder composition, and preferably from about 20 percent by volume to about 30 percent by volume of the photogenerating pigment may be dispersed in about 70 percent by volume to about 80 percent by volume of the film forming polymer binder composition. Typically, the photoconductive material is present in the photogenerating layer in an amount of from about 5 to about 80 percent by weight, and preferably from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight, and the binder is present in an amount of from about 20 to about 95 percent by weight, and preferably from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight, although the relative amounts can be outside these ranges.

The particle size of the photoconductive compositions and/or pigments preferably is less than the thickness of the deposited solidified layer, and more preferably is between about 0.01 micron and about 0.5 micron to facilitate better coating uniformity.

The photogenerating layer containing photoconductive compositions and the resinous binder material generally ranges in thickness from about 0.05 micron to about 10 microns or more, preferably being from about 0.1 micron to about 5 microns, and more preferably having a thickness of from about 0.3 micron to about 3 microns, although the thickness can be outside these ranges. The photogenerating layer thickness is related to the relative amounts of photogenerating compound and binder, with the photogenerating material often being present in amounts of from about 5 to about 100 percent by weight. Higher binder content compositions generally require thicker layers for photogeneration. Generally, it is desirable to provide this layer in a thickness sufficient to absorb about 90 percent or more of the incident radiation which is directed upon it in the imagewise or printing exposure step. The maximum thickness of this layer is dependent primarily upon factors such as mechanical considerations, the specific photogenerating compound selected, the thicknesses of the other layers, and whether a flexible photoconductive imaging member is desired.

The photogenerating layer can be applied to underlying layers by any desired or suitable method. Any suitable technique may be utilized to mix and thereafter apply the photogenerating layer coating mixture. Typical application techniques include spraying, dip coating, roll coating, wire wound rod coating, and the like. Drying of the deposited coating may be effected by any suitable technique, such as oven drying, infra red radiation drying, air drying and the like.

Any other suitable multilayer photoconductors may also be employed in the imaging member of this invention. Some multilayer photoconductors comprise at least two electrically operative layers, a photogenerating or charge generating layer and a charge transport layer. The charge generating layer and charge transport layer as well as the other layers may be applied in any suitable order to produce either positive or negative charging photoreceptors. For example, the charge generating layer may be applied prior to the charge transport layer, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, or the charge transport layer may be applied prior to the charge generating layer, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,158, the entire disclosures of these patents being incorporated herein by reference.

When present, the optional charge transport layer can comprise any suitable charge transport material. The active charge transport layer may consist entirely of the desired charge transport material, or may comprise an activating compound useful as an additive dispersed in electrically inactive polymeric materials making these materials electrically active. These compounds may be added to polymeric materials which are incapable of supporting the injection of photogenerated holes from the generation material and incapable of allowing the transport of these holes therethrough, thereby converting the electrically inactive polymeric material to a material capable of supporting the injection of photogenerated holes from the generation material and capable of allowing the transport of these holes through the active layer in order to discharge the surface charge on the active layer. An especially preferred transport layer comprises from about 25 percent to about 75 percent by weight of at least one charge transporting compound, and from about 75 percent to about 25 percent by weight of a polymeric film forming resin in which the aromatic amine is soluble.

Examples of charge transport materials include pure selenium, selenium-arsenic alloys, selenium-arsenic-halogen alloys, selenium-halogen, and the like. Generally, from about 10 parts by weight per million to about 200 parts by weight per million of halogen are present in a halogen doped selenium charge transport layer, although the amount can be outside of this range. If a halogen doped transport layer free of arsenic is utilized, the halogen content preferably is less than about 20 parts by weight per million. Transport layers are well known in the art. Typical transport layers are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,605 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,424, the disclosures of each of these patents being totally incorporated herein by reference.

Organic charge transport materials can also be employed. Typical charge transporting materials include the following:

Diamine transport molecules of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,008, U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,829, U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,384, U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,116, U.S. Pat. No. 4,299,897, U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,274, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Typical diamine transport molecules include N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3"-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(4-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(2-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-ethylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(4-ethylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(4-n-butylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-chlorophenyl)-›1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-›1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(phenylmethyl)-›1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetraphenyl-›2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetra-(4-methylphenyl)-›2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamin e, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(4-methylphenyl)-›2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'- diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(2-methylphenyl)-›2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'- diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-›2,2'-dimethyl-1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'- diamine, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-pyrenyl-1,6-diamine, and the like.

Pyrazoline transport molecules as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,982, U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,746, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,851, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. Typical pyrazoline transport molecules include 1-›lepidyl-(2)!-3-(p-diethylaminophenyl)-5-(p-diethylaminophenyl)pyrazolin e, 1-›quinolyl-(2)!-3-(p-diethylaminophenyl)-5-(p-diethylaminophenyl)pyrazoli ne, 1-›pyridyl-(2)!-3-(p-diethylaminostyryl)-5-(p-diethylaminophenyl)pyrazolin e, 1-›6-methoxypyridyl-(2)!-3-(p-diethylaminostyryl)-5-(p-diethylaminophenyl) pyrazoline, 1-phenyl-3-›p-dimethylaminostyryl!-5-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)pyrazoline, 1-phenyl-3-›p-diethylaminostyryl!-5-(p-diethylaminostyryl)pyrazoline, and the like.

Substituted fluorene charge transport molecules as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,021, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Typical fluorene charge transport molecules include 9-(4'-dimethylaminobenzylidene)fluorene, 9-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)fluorene, 9-(2',4'-dimethoxybenzylidene)fluorene, 2-nitro-9-benzylidene-fluorene, 2-nitro-9-(4'-diethylaminobenzylidene)fluorene, and the like.

Oxadiazole transport molecules such as 2,5-bis(4-diethylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, pyrazoline, imidazole, triazole, and the like. Other typical oxadiazole transport molecules are described, for example, in German Patent 1,058,836, German Patent 1,060,260, and German Patent 1,120,875, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Hydrazone transport molecules, such as p-diethylamino benzaldehyde-(diphenylhydrazone), o-ethoxy-p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde-(diphenylhydrazone), o-methyl-p-diethylaminobenzaldehyde-(diphenylhydrazone), o-methyl-p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde-(diphenylhydrazone), 1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde 1-methyl-1-phenylhydrazone, 1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde 1,1-phenylhydrazone, 4-methoxynaphthlene-1-carbaldeyde 1-methyl-1-phenylhydrazone, and the like. Other typical hydrazone transport molecules are described, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,987, U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,106, U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,388, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,147, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Carbazole phenyl hydrazone transport molecules such as 9-methylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-1,1-diphenylhydrazone, 9-ethylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-1-methyl-1-phenylhydrazone, 9-ethylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-1-ethyl-1-phenylhydrazone, 9-ethylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-1-ethyl-1-benzyl-1-phenylhydrazone, 9-ethylcarbazole-3-carbaldehyde-1,1-diphenylhydrazone, and the like. Other typical carbazole phenyl hydrazone transport molecules are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,256,821 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,426, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Vinyl-aromatic polymers such as polyvinyl anthracene, polyacenaphthylene; formaldehyde condensation products with various aromatics such as condensates of formaldehyde and 3-bromopyrene; 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, and 3,6-dinitro-N-t-butylnaphthalimide as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,717, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.

Oxadiazole derivatives such as 2,5-bis-(p-diethylaminophenyl)-oxadiazole-1,3,4 described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,944, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.

Tri-substituted methanes such as alkyl-bis(N,N-dialkylaminoaryl)methane, cycloalkyl-bis(N,N-dialkylaminoaryl)methane, and cycloalkenyl-bis(N,N-dialkylaminoaryl)methane as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,989, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.

9-Fluorenylidene methylene derivatives having the formula ##STR73## wherein X and Y are cyano groups or alkoxycarbonyl groups; A, B, and W are electron withdrawing groups independently selected from the group consisting of acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, alkylaminocarbonyl, and derivatives thereof; m is a number of from 0 to 2; and n is the number 0 or 1 as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,865, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Typical 9-fluorenylidene methylene derivatives encompassed by the above formula include (4-n-butoxycarbonyl-9-fluorenylidene)malonontrile, (4-phenethoxycarbonyl-9-fluorenylidene)malonontrile, (4-carbitoxy-9-fluorenylidene)malonontrile, (4-n-butoxycarbonyl-2,7-dinitro-9-fluorenylidene)malonate, and the like.

Other charge transport materials include poly-1-vinylpyrene, poly-9-vinylanthracene, poly-9-(4-pentenyl)carbazole, poly-9-(5-hexyl)-carbazole, polymethylene pyrene, poly-1-(pyrenyl)butadiene, polymers such as alkyl, nitro, amino, halogen, and hydroxy substitute polymers such as poly-3-amino carbazole, 1,3-dibromo-poly-N-vinyl carbazole, 3,6-dibromo-poly-N-vinyl carbazole, and numerous other transparent organic polymeric or non-polymeric transport materials as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,516, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Also suitable as charge transport materials are phthalic anhydride, tetrachlorophthalic anhydride, benzil, mellitic anhydride, S-tricyanobenzene, picryl chloride, 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, 2,4-dinitrobromobenzene, 4-nitrobiphenyl, 4,4-dinitrophenyl, 2,4,6-trinitroanisole, trichlorotrinitrobenzene, trinitro-o-toluene, 4,6-dichloro-1,3-dinitrobenzene, 4,6-dibromo-1,3-dinitrobenzene, p-dinitrobenzene, chloranil, bromanil, and mixtures thereof, 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone, trinitroanthracene, dinitroacridene, tetracyanopyrene, dinitroanthraquinone, polymers having aromatic or heterocyclic groups with more than one strongly electron withdrawing substituent such as nitro, sulfonate, sulfonyl, carboxyl, cyano, or the like, including polyesters, polysiloxanes, polyamides, polyurethanes, and epoxies, as well as block, graft, or random copolymers containing the aromatic moiety, and the like, as well as mixtures thereof, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,274, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference.

Also suitable are charge transport materials such as triarylamines, including tritolyl amine, of the formula ##STR74## and the like, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,597 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,730, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference, and substituted diarylmethane and triarylmethane compounds, including bis-(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl)-phenylmethane, of the formula ##STR75## and the like, as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,551, U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,310, U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,431, British Patent 984,965, British Patent 980,879, and British Patent 1,141,666, the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.

A particularly preferred charge transport molecule is one having the general formula ##STR76## wherein X, Y and Z are each, independently of the others, hydrogen, alkyl groups having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, or chlorine, and wherein at least one of X, Y and Z is independently selected to be an alkyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms or chlorine. If Y and Z are hydrogen, the compound can be named N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(alkylphenyl)-›1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine wherein the alkyl is, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, or the like, or the compound can be N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(chlorophenyl)-›1,1'-biphenyl!-4,4'-diamine. A particularly preferred member of this class is N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3"-methylphenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine (prepared as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,990, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference).

Any suitable and conventional technique may be utilized to mix and thereafter apply the charge transport layer coating mixture to the charge generating layer. Typical application techniques include spraying, dip coating, roll coating, wire wound rod coating, and the like. Drying of the deposited coating may be effected by any suitable conventional technique such as oven drying, infra red radiation drying, air drying and the like.

The charge transport material is present in the charge transport layer in any effective amount, generally from about 5 to about 90 percent by weight, preferably from about 20 to about 75 percent by weight, more preferably from about 20 to about 60 percent by weight, and even more preferably from about 30 to about 60 percent by weight, although the amount can be outside of these ranges.

Examples of the highly insulating and transparent resinous components or inactive binder resinous material for the transport layers include materials such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,121,006, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Specific examples of suitable organic resinous materials include polycarbonates, acrylate polymers, vinyl polymers, cellulose polymers, polyesters, polysiloxanes, polyamides, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, polyarylates, polyethers, polysulfones, and epoxies, as well as block, random or alternating copolymers thereof. Preferred electrically inactive binder materials include polycarbonate resins having a number average molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 100,000 with a molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 100,000 being particularly preferred. The high performance polymers of the present invention can also be employed in the charge transport layer of the imaging member, either alone or in combination with other materials. Generally, the charge transport layer contains the charge transport material in an amount of from about 5 to about 90 percent by weight, and preferably from about 20 percent to about 75 percent by weight, although the relative amounts of binder and transport material can be outside these ranges.

Generally, the thickness of the charge transport layer is from about 10 to about 50 microns, although thicknesses outside this range can also be used. Preferably, the ratio of the thickness of the charge transport layer to the charge generator layer is maintained from about 2:1 to 200:1, and in some instances as great as 400:1.

At least one layer of the imaging members of the present invention, such as the adhesive layer, the protective overcoat layer, the photogenerating layer, the charge transport layer, or the like, contains a blend of a polycarbonate resin and a polymer of the formulae indicated hereinbelow. Any desired or suitable polycarbonate resin can be selected. For example, polycarbonates of the general formula ##STR77## wherein R and R' each, independently of the other, is an alkyl group (including cycloalkyl groups and substituted alkyl groups), typically with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group (including substituted phenyl groups) and n is an integer representing the number of repeat monomer units, typically being from about 10 to about 1,000, although the value can be outside this range. Examples of particularly preferred polycarbonates for the present invention include poly(4,4'-isopropylidene-diphenylene)carbonate (also referred to as bisphenol-A-polycarbonate), poly(4,4'-diphenyl-1,1'-cyclohexane carbonate, and the like. Preferred polycarbonate resins have a number average molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 150,000, with a number average molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 100,000 being particularly preferred. Preferred polycarbonate resins have a weight average molecular weight of from about 20,000 to about 100,000, with a weight average molecular weight in the range of from about 50,000 to about 100,000 being particularly preferred. Within the charge transport layer, the polycarbonate and the second polymer are blended in any suitable or desired relative amounts, typically from about 1 to about 99 percent by weight polycarbonate and from about 1 to about 99 percent by weight of the second polymer, preferably from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight polycarbonate and from about 5 to about 95 percent by weight of the second polymer, and more preferably from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight polycarbonate and from about 25 to about 75 percent by weight of the second polymer, although the relative amounts can be outside these ranges.

The charge transport layer contains a polycarbonate and a second polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein. Specific examples of suitable second polymer materials include those of the following formulae: ##STR78## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR79## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR80## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR81## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and preferably from 2 to about 10, ##STR82## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR83## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR84## other similar bisphenol derivatives, or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR85## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the numbers of repeating units.

In one preferred embodiment, the two phenyl groups around the "A" group are perfluorinated and x is 0, resulting in a polymer of the formula ##STR86## In another preferred embodiment, the two phenyl groups around the "A" group are perfluorinated, x is 1, and A is ##STR87## resulting in a polymer of the formula ##STR88##

In another embodiment, the polymer is of the formula ##STR89## wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1, A is ##STR90## or mixtures thereof, B is ##STR91## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR92## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and preferably from 2 to about 10, ##STR93## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR94## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from to about 10, ##STR95## other similar bisphenol derivatives, or mixtures thereof, C is ##STR96## or mixtures thereof, wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and m and n are integers representing the number of repeating units.

In another embodiment, the polymer is of the formula I, III, IV, VII, and VIII, the A group is ##STR97## and the B group is ##STR98## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR99## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and preferably from 2 to about 10, ##STR100## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR101## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR102## other similar bisphenol derivatives, or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, the polymer is of the formula I, III, IV, VII, and VIII, the A group is ##STR103## and the B group is ##STR104## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR105## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and preferably from 2 to about 10, ##STR106## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR107## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR108## other similar bisphenol derivatives, or mixtures thereof.

In another embodiment, the polymer is of the formula I, III, IV, VII, and VIII, the A group is ##STR109## and the B group is ##STR110## wherein v is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10,

wherein t is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR111## wherein z is an integer of from 2 to about 20, and preferably from 2 to about 10, ##STR112## wherein u is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR113## wherein w is an integer of from 1 to about 20, and preferably from 1 to about 10, ##STR114## other similar bisphenol derivatives, or mixtures thereof.

The value of m and n are preferably such that the number average molecular weight of the material is from about 10,000 to about 100,000, more preferably is from about 30,000 to about 100,000, and even more preferably is from about 30,000 to about 60,000, although the M.sub.n can be outside these ranges; the weight average molecular weight of the material preferably is from about 20,000 to about 350,000, and more preferably is from about 100,000 to about 250,000, although the M.sub.w can be outside these ranges. The polydispersity (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) typically is from about 2 to about 9, and preferably is about 3, although higher or lower polydispersity values may also be used. The phenyl groups and the A, B, and/or C groups may also be substituted. Examples of suitable substituents include (but are not limited to) alkyl groups, including saturated, unsaturated, and cyclic alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl groups, including saturated, unsaturated, and cyclic substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups, preferably with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, substituted alkoxy groups, preferably with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, aryloxy groups, preferably with from 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, substituted aryloxy groups, preferably with from 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, arylalkyloxy groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, substituted arylalkyloxy groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, hydroxy groups, cyano groups, pyridine groups, pyridinium groups, ether groups, ester groups, amide groups, carbonyl groups, thiocarbonyl groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, phosphate groups, sulfone groups, acyl groups, and the like, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring, wherein the substituents on the substituted alkyl groups, substituted aryl groups, substituted arylalkyl groups, substituted alkoxy groups, substituted aryloxy groups, and substituted arylalkyloxy groups can be (but are not limited to) hydroxy groups, ammonium groups, cyano groups, pyridine groups, pyridinium groups, ether groups, aldehyde groups, ketone groups, ester groups, amide groups, carboxylic acid groups, carbonyl groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, phosphine groups, phosphonium groups, phosphate groups, cyano groups, nitrile groups, mercapto groups, nitroso groups, halogen atoms, nitro groups, sulfone groups, acyl groups, mixtures thereof, and the like, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring. The polymers preferably have a glass transition temperature of from about 50.degree. to about 300.degree. C., and more preferably from about 150.degree. to about 260.degree. C., although the T.sub.g can be outside these ranges. When the polymers are admixed with other components of the photosensitive imaging member into which they will be incorporated, such as charge transport molecules to form a charge transport layer, the polymer-containing mixture preferably has a glass transition temperature of from about 50.degree. to about 100.degree. C., and more preferably about 70.degree. C., although the T.sub.g of the mixture can be outside this range. Processes for the preparation of these materials are known, and disclosed in, for example, P. M. Hergenrother et al., "Poly(arylene ethers)", Polymer, Vol. 29, 358 (1988); S. J. Havens et al., "Ethynyl-Terminated Polyarylates: Synthesis and Characterization," Journal of Polymer Science, Polymer Chemistry Edition, Vol. 22, 3011 (1984); B. J. Jensen and P. M. Hergenrother, "High Performance Polymers," Vol. 1, No. 1) page 31 (1989); "Synthesis and characterization of New Fluorescent Poly(arylene ethers)," S. Matsuo, N. Yakoh, S. Chino, M. Mitani, and S. Tagami, Journal of Polymer Science: Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 32, 1071 (1994); "Synthesis of a Novel Naphthalene-Based Poly(arylene ether ketone) with High Solubility and Thermal Stability," Mami Ohno, Toshikazu Takata, and Takeshi Endo, Macromolecules, 27, 3447 (1994); G. Hougham, G. Tesoro, and J. Shaw, Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng., 61, 369 (1989); "Synthesis and Characterization of New Aromatic Poly(ether ketones)," F. W. Mercer, M. T. Mckenzie, G. Merlino, and M. M. Fone, J. of Applied Polymer Science, 56, 1397 (1995); K. E. Dukes, M. D. Forbes, A. S. Jeevarajan, A. M. Belu, J. M. DeDimone, R. W. Linton, and V. V. Sheares, Macromolecules, 29, 3081 (1996); H. C. Zhang, T. L. Chen, Y. G. Yuan, Chinese Patent CN 85108751 (1991); "Static and laser light scattering study of novel thermoplastics. 1. Phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone)," C. Wu, S. Bo, M. Siddiq, G. Yang and T. Chen, Macromolecules, 29, 2989 (1996); the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.

Three examples of preferred polymers for the present invention are those of the formulae ##STR115## wherein n represents the number of repeating monomer units, and typically is from about 25 to about 620, and preferably from about 74 to about 150, although the value of n can be outside these ranges, in some specific embodiments with a glass transition temperature of about 155.degree. C., ##STR116## wherein n represents the number of repeating monomer units, and typically is from about 20 to about 475, and preferably from about 55 to about 114, although the value of n can be outside these ranges, in some specific embodiments with a glass transition temperature of about 240.degree. C., and ##STR117## wherein n represents the number of repeating monomer units, and typically is from about 10 to about 620, and preferably from about 55 to about 114, although the value of n can be outside these ranges.

Polymers of the formula ##STR118## and oligomers containing this moiety are also preferred because of advantages such as the ability to dissolve relatively high concentrations of photoreceptor component materials such as charge transport molecules. These polymers also exhibit less likelihood of crystallizing. Further, materials such as charge transport molecules dissolved within these polymers are less likely to exhibit crystallization. Layers containing these polymers can be applied to an imaging member by a solvent coating process wherein the coating solution contains a relatively high concentration of the layer components. Layers containing these polymers can also contain relatively high concentrations of photoreceptor component materials such as charge transport molecules.

While not required, it may be advantageous with respect to the ultimate properties of the polymer if the polymer is end-functionalized with a specifically selected group. In some instances, the terminal groups on the polymer can be selected by the stoichiometry of the polymer synthesis. For example, when a polymer is prepared by the reaction of 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone and bis-phenol A in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylacetamide, if the bis-phenol A is present in about 7.5 to 8 mole percent excess, the resulting polymer generally is bis-phenol A-terminated (wherein the bis-phenol A moiety may or may not have one or more hydroxy groups thereon). In contrast, if the 4,4'-dichlorobenzophenone is present in about 7.5 to 8 mole percent excess, the reaction time is approximately half that required for the bis-phenol A excess reaction, the resulting polymer generally is benzophenone-terminated (wherein the benzophenone moiety may or may not have one or more chlorine atoms thereon). Similarly, when a polymer is prepared by the reaction of 4,4.degree.-difluorobenzophenone with either 9,9'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene or bis-phenol A in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylacetamide, if the 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone reactant is present in excess, the resulting polymer generally has benzophenone terminal groups (which may or may not have one or more fluorine atoms thereon). The well-known Carothers equation can be employed to calculate the stoichiometric offset required to obtain the desired molecular weight. (See, for example, William H. Carothers, "An Introduction to the General Theory of Condensation Polymers," Chem. Rev., 8, 353 (1931) and J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 51, 2548 (1929); see also P. J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, N.Y. (1953); the disclosures of each of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.) More generally speaking, during the preparation of polymers such as those of the formula ##STR119## and the other formulae of the present invention, the stoichiometry of the polymer synthesis reaction can be adjusted so that the end groups of the polymer are derived from the "A" groups or derived from the "B" groups. Specific functional groups can also be present on these terminal "A" groups or "B" groups, such as hydroxy groups which are attached to the aromatic ring on an "A" or "B" group to form a phenolic moiety, halogen atoms which are attached to the "A" or "B" group, or the like.

Polymers with end groups derived from the "A" group, such as benzophenone groups or halogenated benzophenone groups, may be preferred for some applications because both the syntheses and some of the reactions of these materials to place substituents thereon may be easier to control and may yield better results with respect to, for example, cost, molecular weight, molecular weight range, and polydispersity (M.sub.w /M.sub.n) compared to polymers with end groups derived from the "B" group, such as bis-phenol A groups (having one or more hydroxy groups on the aromatic rings thereof) or other phenolic groups.

Terminal hydroxy or halide groups on the polymer can also be further reacted. For example, a polymer with halide terminal groups, such as the polymer obtained by reacting an excess of 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone with, for example, bis-phenol A or 9,9'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, can be reacted in the presence of potassium carbonate with phenol to replace the --F terminal groups with --.phi. groups. Similarly, a polymer with hydroxy terminal groups can be reacted with a quaternary ammonium salt of the formula NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 R.sub.4, wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 each, independently of the others, are alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 50 carbon atoms, aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 50 carbon atoms, arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 50 carbon atoms, or substituted alkyl, aryl, or arylalkyl groups, in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide in water and methylene chloride at temperatures typically from about 20.degree. to about 60.degree. C., to replace the hydroxy groups with the corresponding alkoxy groups.

In addition, oligomers can be reacted with coupling agents to generate polymers of the formulae indicated herein. The general reaction scheme, illustrated below wherein polymers of formula I are coupled to form polymers of formula III or IV, is as follows: ##STR120## wherein m is an integer of at least about 1 and represents the number of repeating units. The value of m is such that the resulting coupled polymer can be dissolved into a solvent and coated onto an imaging member. Preferably, m is such that the weight average molecular weight of the polymer is under about 300,000, and more preferably under about 150,000.

Examples of suitable "C" groups include those based on polycarbonates, wherein "C" is ##STR121## and the polymer thus contains a ##STR122## linkage, those based on polyurethanes and polyisocyanates, wherein "C" is of the general formula ##STR123## and the polymer thus contains a ##STR124## linkage, wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, those based on polyesters, wherein "C" is of the general formula ##STR125## and the polymer thus contains a ##STR126## linkage, wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, those based on dianhydrides, wherein "C" is of the general formula ##STR127## and the polymer thus contains a ##STR128## linkage, wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, those based on diepoxies, wherein "C" is of the general formula ##STR129## and the polymer thus contains a ##STR130## wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups and polymeric groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof, and the like. For all of the above "R" groups, examples of suitable substituents include (but are not limited to) alkoxy groups, preferably with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, aryloxy groups, preferably with from 6 to about 24 carbon atoms, arylalkyloxy groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, hydroxy groups, halogen atoms, ammonium groups, cyano groups, pyridine groups, pyridinium groups, nitrile groups, mercapto groups, nitroso groups, nitro groups, ether groups, aldehyde groups, ketone groups, ester groups, amide groups, carboxylic acid groups, carbonyl groups, thiocarbonyl groups, sulfate groups, sulfonate groups, sulfide groups, sulfoxide groups, sulfone groups, phosphine groups, phosphonium groups, phosphate groups, acyl groups, and the like, wherein two or more substituents can be joined together to form a ring.

For example, a hydroxy-terminated oligomer can be reacted with phosgene or the equivalent thereof (such as lithium hydride and diphenyl carbonate, or ##STR131## or the like) to couple the oligomers with polycarbonate groups, illustrated below wherein polymers of formula I are coupled to form polymers of formula III or IV as follows: ##STR132## Conditions for this condensation reaction with a polymer of the specific formulae indicated herein are similar for those employed for the reaction of bis-phenol A with phosgene, as disclosed in, for example, W. R. Sorenson and T. W. Campbell, Preparative Methods of Polymer Chemistry, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons (New York 1961, 1968), the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, at, for example, pages 122, 123, 140, and 141.

In another example, a hydroxy-terminated oligomer can be reacted with a diisocyanate (one molar equivalent of isocyanate group per molar equivalent of hydroxy group) to couple the oligomers with isocyanate groups, illustrated below wherein polymers of formula I are coupled to form polymers of formula III or IV as follows: ##STR133## Other specific examples of suitable diisocyanate reactants (typically of the general formula

wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof) include toluene diisocyanate, of the formula ##STR134## trimethylol propane toluene diisocyanate adducts, such as CB-75, commercially available from Mobay Chemical Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., of the formula ##STR135## pentaerythritol toluene diisocyanate adducts, such as that of the formula ##STR136## commercially available from Hoechst-Celanese Corp., and the like. The di-isocyanate (1 equivalent of isocyanate groups) can be mixed with the hydroxy terminated oligomer (1 equivalent of hydroxy groups) in methylene chloride solution at 25.degree. C., followed by coating the reaction mixture as rapidly as possible. The films chain-extend on standing. The films are then dried by heating to 90.degree. C. to remove the solvent. Above this temperature, thermally reversing of the reaction may occur.

In another example, a hydroxy-terminated oligomer can be reacted with a diester, diacid chloride, or dianhydride (one molar equivalent of ester, acid chloride, or anhydride group per molar equivalent of hydroxy group) to couple the oligomers with ester, acid chloride, or anhydride groups, illustrated below wherein polymers of formula I are coupled to form polymers of formula III or IV as follows: ##STR137## Typical diester and diacid chloride reactants are of the general formulae ##STR138## wherein R, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are each, independently from the others, alkyl groups, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, aryl groups, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or arylalkyl groups, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. Typical dianhydride reactants are of the general formula ##STR139## wherein R is an alkyl group, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or an arylalkyl group, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. The hydroxy-terminated oligomer films are heated with the diester, diacid chloride, or dianhydride (phthalic acid diester or dianhydride, for example) up to 150.degree. C. for about 30 minutes to chain-extend the polymer.

In another example, a hydroxy-terminated oligomer can be reacted with a diepoxy compound or a dianhydride to couple the oligomers with epoxy group derivatives, illustrated below wherein polymers of formula I are coupled to form polymers of formula III or IV as follows: ##STR140## Typical diepoxy reactants are of the general formula ##STR141## wherein R, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are each, independently from the others, alkyl groups, including cyclic and substituted alkyl groups, preferably with from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, aryl groups, including substituted aryl groups, preferably with from 6 to about 30 carbon atoms, or arylalkyl groups, including substituted arylalkyl groups, preferably with from 7 to about 30 carbon atoms, or mixtures thereof. R can also be polymeric, and the resulting diepoxy can be a monomer or a polymer. Specific suitable diepoxy reactants include those where R is ##STR142## such as EPON.RTM. 828 resin, commercially available from Shell Oil Co., Houston, Tex., those where R is ##STR143## wherein n represents the number of repeat monomer units and typically is from about 1 to about 26, such as the other resins in the EPON.RTM. series, those where R is ##STR144## wherein n represents the number of repeat monomer units and typically is from about 1 to about 26, commercially available from Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis., and the like. The hydroxy terminated oligomer films are heated with the epoxy resin (EPON 828) and a dianhydride or triethylamine (10 weight percent) to chain-extend the polymer at 135.degree. C. for 30 minutes.

Polymers of the general formula ##STR145## can also be coupled by these methods, and polymers of formulae IV, V, VI, VII, VI, IX, and X can also be prepared by these methods.

Other layers, such as conventional electrically conductive ground strip along one edge of the belt in contact with the conductive layer, blocking layer, adhesive layer or charge generating layer to facilitate connection of the electrically conductive layer of the photoreceptor to ground or to an electrical bias, may also be included. Ground strips are well known and usually comprise conductive particles dispersed in a film forming binder.

Optionally, an overcoat layer may also be utilized to improve resistance to abrasion. In some cases an anti-curl back coating may be applied to the surface of the substrate opposite to that bearing the photoconductive layer to provide flatness and/or abrasion resistance. These overcoating and anti-curl back coating layers are well known in the art and may comprise thermoplastic organic polymers or inorganic polymers that are electrically insulating or slightly semi-conductive. Overcoatings are continuous and generally have a thickness of less than about 10 micrometers. The thickness of anti-curl backing layers should be sufficient to substantially balance the total forces of the layer or layers on the opposite side of the supporting substrate layer. The total forces are substantially balanced when the belt has no noticeable tendency to curl after all the layers are dried. For example, for an electrophotographic imaging member in which the bulk of the coating thickness on the photoreceptor side of the imaging member is a transport layer containing predominantly polycarbonate resin and having a thickness of about 24 microns on a Mylar substrate having a thickness of about 76 microns, sufficient balance of forces can be achieved with a 13.5 micrometers thick anti-curl layer containing about 99 percent by weight polycarbonate resin, about 1 percent by weight polyester and between about 5 and about 20 percent of coupling agent treated crystalline particles. An example of an anti-curl backing layer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,284 the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. A thickness between about 70 and about 160 microns is a satisfactory range for flexible photoreceptors.

The present invention also encompasses a method of generating images with the photoconductive imaging members disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of generating an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive imaging member of the present invention, developing the latent image, and transferring the developed electrostatic image to a substrate. Optionally, the transferred image can be permanently affixed to the substrate. Development of the image may be achieved by a number of methods, such as cascade, touchdown, powder cloud, magnetic brush, and the like. Transfer of the developed image to a substrate may be by any method, including those making use of a corotron or a biased charging roll. The fixing step may be performed by means of any suitable method, such as radiant flash fusing, heat fusing, pressure fusing, vapor fusing, and the like. Any material used in xerographic copiers and printers may be used as a substrate, such as paper, transparency material, or the like.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail. These examples are intended to be illustrative, and the invention is not limited to the materials, conditions, or process parameters set forth in these embodiments. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

A polyarylene ether ketone of the formula ##STR146## wherein n is between about 6 and about 30 (hereinafter referred to as poly(4-CPK-BPA)) was prepared as follows. A 1 liter, 3-neck round-bottom flask equipped with a Dean-Stark (Barrett) trap, condenser, mechanical stirrer, argon inlet, and stopper was situated in a silicone oil bath. 4,4'-Dichlorobenzophenone (Aldrich 11,370, Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis., 50 grams), bis-phenol A (Aldrich 23,965-8, 48.96 grams), potassium carbonate (65.56 grams), anhydrous N,N-dimethylacetamide (300 milliliters), and toluene (55 milliliters) were added to the flask and heated to 175.degree. C. (oil bath temperature) while the volatile toluene component was collected and removed. After 24 hours of heating at 175.degree. C. with continuous stirring, an aliquot of the reaction product that had been precipitated into methanol was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (gpc) (elution solvent was tetrahydrofuran) with the following results: M.sub.n 4464, M.sub.peak 7583, M.sub.w 7927, M.sub.z 12,331, and M.sub.z+1 16,980. After 48 hours at 175.degree. C. with continuous stirring, the reaction mixture was filtered to remove potassium carbonate and precipitated into methanol (2 gallons). The polymer (poly(4-CPK-BPA)) was isolated in 86% yield after filtration and drying in vacuo. GPC analysis was as follows: M.sub.n 5347, M.sub.peak 16,126, M.sub.w 15,596, M.sub.z 29,209, and M.sub.z+1 42,710. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was about 120.degree..+-.10.degree. C. as determined using differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 20.degree. C. per minute. Solution cast films from methylene chloride were clear, tough, and flexible. As a result of the stoichiometries used in the reaction, it is believed that this polymer had end groups derived from bis-phenol A.

A polyarylene ether ketone of the formula ##STR147## wherein n is about 123 (hereinafter referred to as poly(4-FPK-BPA)) was prepared as follows. A 1 liter, 3-neck round-bottom flask equipped with a Dean-Stark (Barrett) trap, condenser, mechanical stirrer, argon inlet, and stopper was situated in a silicone oil bath. 4,4'-Difluorobenzophenone (Aldrich 11,549-5, Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis., 21.82 grams), bis-phenol A (Aldrich 23,965-8, 22.64 grams), potassium carbonate (40.0 grams), anhydrous N,N-dimethylacetamide (300 milliliters), and toluene (52 milliliters) were added to the flask and heated to 175.degree. C. (oil bath temperature) while the volatile toluene component was collected and removed. After 5 hours of heating at 175.degree. C. with continuous stirring, phenol (5 grams) was added and heating at 170.degree. C. with stirring was continued for 30 minutes more. After cooling to 25.degree. C., the reaction mixture was stirred with 500 grams of methylene chloride and filtered to remove potassium carbonate. The filtrate was added to methanol (3 gallons). The precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with 2.5 gallons of water, and then washed with 1 gallon of methanol. The polymer (poly(4-FPK-BPA)) was isolated in 90 percent yield after filtration and drying in vacuo. GPC analysis was as follows: M.sub.n 30,000, M.sub.w 75,000. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was about 140.degree. C. as determined using differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 20.degree. C. per minute. As a result of the stoichiometries used in the reaction, it is believed that this polymer had end groups derived from oxy-phenyl groups. The polymer dissolved in methylene chloride at 10 percent by weight solids was added to methanol (1 gallon) using a Waring blender to reprecipitate the polymer. The polymer was then isolated by filtration and vacuum dried. This material was subsequently used as the transport layer in photoreceptors.

A polymer of the formula ##STR148## wherein n is about 130 (hereinafter referred to as poly(4-FPK-FBPA)) was prepared as follows. A 1-liter, 3-neck round-bottom flask equipped with a Dean-Stark (Barrett) trap, condenser, mechanical stirrer, argon inlet, and stopper was situated in a silicone oil bath. 4,4'-Difluorobenzophenone (Aldrich Chemical Co., Milwaukee, Wis., 43.47 grams, 0.1992 mol), 9,9'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorenone (Ken Seika, Rumson, N.J., 75.06 grams, 0.2145 mol), potassium carbonate (65.56 grams), anhydrous N,N'-methylacetamide (300 milliliters), and toluene (52 milliliters) were added to the flask and heated to 175.degree. C. (oil bath temperature) while the volatile toluene component was collected and removed. After 5 hours of heating at 175.degree. C. with continuous stirring, the reaction mixture was allowed to cool to 25.degree. C. The solidified mass was treated with acetic acid (vinegar) and extracted with methylene chloride, filtered, and added to methanol to precipitate the polymer, which was collected by filtration, washed with water, and then washed with methanol. The yield of vacuum dried product, poly(4-FPK-FBPA), was 71.7 grams. The polymer was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (gpc) (elution solvent was tetrahydrofuran) with the following results: M.sub.n 59,100, M.sub.peak 144,000, M.sub.w 136,100, M.sub.z 211,350, and M.sub.z+1 286,100. The reported glass transition temperature of the polymer was 240.degree. C. as determined using differential scanning calorimetry at a heating rate of 20.degree. C. per minute. Solution cast films from methylene chloride were clear, tough, and flexible. As a result of the stoichiometries used in the reaction, it is believed that this polymer had hydroxyl end-groups derived from fluorenone bisphenol.

Several generator layers containing hydroxygallium phthalocyanine pigment particles were prepared by forming coatings using conventional coating techniques on a substrate comprising a vacuum deposited titanium layer on a polyethylene terephthalate film (Melinex.RTM., obtained from ICI). The first coating was a siloxane barrier layer formed from hydrolyzed gamma-aminopropyltriethoxysilane having a thickness of 0.005 micron (50 Angstroms). This film was coated as follows: 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (obtained from PCR Research Chemicals, Fla.) was mixed in ethanol in a 1:50 volume ratio. A film of the resulting solution was applied to the substrate in a wet thickness of 0.5 mil by a multiple clearance film applicator. The barrier layer was then allowed to dry for 5 minutes curing temperature, followed by curing for 10 minutes at 110.degree. C. in a forced air oven. The second coating was an adhesive layer of polyester resin (49,000, obtained from E. I. duPont de Nemours and Co.) having a thickness of 0.005 micron (50 Angstroms) and was coated as follows: 0.5 grams of 49,000 polyester resin was dissolved in 70 grams of tetrahydrofuran and 29.5 grams of cyclohexanone. A film of the resulting solution was coated onto the barrier layer by a 0.5 mil bar and cured in a forced air oven for 10 minutes. The adhesive interface layer was thereafter coated with a photogenerating layer containing 40 percent by volume hydroxygallium phthalocyanine and 60 percent by volume of a block copolymer of styrene (82 percent)/4-vinyl pyridine (18 percent) having a M.sub.w of 11,900. This photogenerating coating composition was prepared by dissolving 1.5 grams of the block copolymer of styrene/4-vinyl pyridine in 42 milliliters of toluene. To this solution was added 1.33 grams of hydroxygallium phthalocyanine and 300 grams of 1/8 inch diameter stainless steel shot. This mixture was then placed on a roll mill for 20 hours. The resulting slurry was thereafter applied to the adhesive layer with a Bird bar applicator to form a layer having a wet thickness of 0.25 mil. This photogenerating layer was dried at 135.degree. C. for 5 minutes in a forced air oven to form a layer having a dry thickness of 0.4 micron.

A charge transport layer was coated onto the hydroxygallium phthalocyanine generator layer of an imaging member prepared as described in Example III. The transport layer was formed by using a Bird coating applicator to apply a solution containing one gram of N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methyl-phenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine and one gram of a polymeric binder resin comprising a blend of a polycarbonate resin ›poly(4,4'-isopropylidene-diphenylene carbonate (available as Makrolon.RTM. from Farbenfabricken Bayer A.G.)! and either the polymer prepared as described in Example IB or the polymer prepared as described in Example II dissolved in 13.5 grams of methylene chloride solvent. A total of six imaging members were prepared: (a) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example IB in an amount of 25 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 75 percent by weight, (b) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example IB in an amount of 50 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 50 percent by weight, (c) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example IB in an amount of 75 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 25 percent by weight, (d) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example II in an amount of 25 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 75 percent by weight, (e) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example II in an amount of 50 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 50 percent by weight, and (f) one with the polymer blend containing the polymer of Example II in an amount of 75 percent by weight and the polycarbonate in an amount of 25 percent by weight. The N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methyl-phenyl)-(1,1'-biphenyl)-4,4'-diamine is an electrically active aromatic diamine charge transport small molecule, and the polycarbonate resin and the polymers of Examples IB and II are electrically inactive film-forming binders. The coated device was dried at 80.degree. C. for half an hour in a forced air oven to form a dry 25 micron thick charge transport layer.

Imaging members prepared as described in Example IV were mounted on a cylindrical aluminum drum which was rotated on a shaft. The films were charged by a corotron mounted along the circumference of the drum. The surface potentials were measured as a function of time by several capacitively coupled probes placed at different locations around the shaft. The probes were calibrated by applying known potentials to the drum substrate. The films on the drum were then exposed and erased by light sources located at appropriate positions around the drum. The measurement consisted of charging the photoconductor devices in a constant current or voltage mode. As the drum rotated, the initial charging potential was measured by probe 1. Further rotation led to the exposure station, where the photoconductor devices were exposed to monochromatic radiation of known intensity. The surface potential after exposure was measured by probes 2 and 3. The devices were finally exposed to an erase lamp of appropriate intensity and any residual potential was measured by probe 4. The process was repeated with the magnitude of the exposure automatically changed during the next cycle. A photo-induced discharge characteristics curve was obtained by plotting the potentials at probes 2 and 3 as a function of exposure. The initial slope of the discharge curve is termed S in units of (volts.times.cm.sup.2 /ergs) and the residual potential after the erase step is termed Vr. The devices were cycled continuously for 10,000 cycles of charge, expose and erase steps to determine the cyclic stability. Charge trapping in the transport layer results in a build up of residual potential known as cycle-up. The sensitivity data and the residual cycle-up for the six samples is shown in the table below. S represents the initial slope of the Photo-Induced Discharge Characteristics (PIDC) and is a measure of the sensitivity of the device. Cycle-up is the increase in residual potential in 10,000 cycles of continuous operation.

Other embodiments and modifications of the present invention may occur to those skilled in the art subsequent to a review of the information presented herein; these embodiments and modifications, as well as equivalents thereof, are also included within the scope of this invention.