Electrophotographic belt, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing electrophotographic belt

A method for manufacturing an electrophotographic belt having a base layer and a surface layer in direct contact with the base layer, the method comprising the steps of:

• preparing a base layer comprising a component (e);
• preparing a curable composition comprising components (a) to (d);
• forming a coating film of the curable composition on one surface of the base layer and drying the coating film;
• and
• curing the dried coating film,
• wherein
• the component (a) is a first particle being at least one selected from the group consisting of a hollow silica particle and a solid silica particle, and having a number-average particle diameter of primary particles, which is greater than 30 nm to less than 100 nm,
• the component (b) is a second particle being different from the first particle and comprising a conductive metal oxide, and having a number-average particle diameter of primary particles of 5 nm to 40 nm;
• the component (c) is a (meth)acrylic monomer;
• the component (d) is at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-butanone and 4-methyl-2-pentanone;
• the component (e) is a salt comprising at least one cation selected from the group consisting of cations represented by formulas (C1) to (C4) and at least one anion selected from the group consisting of anions represented by formulas (A1) to (A4):
• wherein R1 to R12 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, where at least one selected from the group consisting of R1 and R2, at least one selected from the group consisting of R3 and R4, at least one selected from the group consisting of R5 to R8, and at least one selected from the group consisting of R9 to R12 are linear or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 14 carbon atoms, and
• wherein R13 to R16 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or an alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms.