Electrophotographic photosensitive member, method for manufacturing electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

A method for manufacturing an electrophotographic photosensitive member, the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer in this order, the charge transport layer containing a charge transport material,

• the charge transport layer being a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
• the charge transport layer containing a polycarbonate resin having a structural unit selected from group A and a structural unit selected from group B,
• the group A including structural units represented by formula (103):
• where R231 to R234 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, R235 and R236 are groups of the same kind, representing an alkyl group containing 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and i231 represents an integer of 0 to 3;
• the group B including structural units represented by formulae (104), (105), and (106):
• where R241 to R244 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and X represents a single bond or a sulfonyl group;
• where R251 to R254 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and R256 and R257 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or halogenated alkyl group;
• where R261 to R264 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and W represents a cycloalkylidene group containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms,
• the method comprising:
• producing the charge transport layer by forming a wet coating of a coating liquid configured to form the charge transport layer, the coating liquid containing the charge transport material, the polycarbonate resin, and a solvent having a dipole moment of 1.0 D or less;
• and
• drying the wet coating.

A process cartridge comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and at least one unit selected from the group consisting of a charging unit, a development unit, a transfer unit, and a cleaning unit, the process cartridge integrally holding the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the at least one unit and configured to be detachably attached to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus,

• the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer in this order, the charge transport layer containing a charge transport material,
• the charge transport layer being a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
• the charge transport layer containing a polycarbonate resin having a structural unit selected from group A and a structural unit selected from group B,
• the group A including structural units represented by formula (103):
• where R231 to R234 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, R235 and R236 are groups of the same kind, representing an alkyl group containing 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and i231 represents an integer of 0 to 3;
• the group B including structural units represented by formulae (104), (105), and (106):
• where R241 to R244 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and X represents a single bond or a sulfonyl group;
• where R251 to R254 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and R256 and R257 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or halogenated alkyl group;
• where R261 to R264 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and W represents a cycloalkylidene group containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photosensitive member and a charging unit, an exposure unit, a development unit, and a transfer unit,

• the electrophotographic photosensitive member having a support, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer in this order, the charge transport layer containing a charge transport material,
• the charge transport layer being a surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
• the charge transport layer containing a polycarbonate resin having a structural unit selected from group A and a structural unit selected from group B,
• the group A including structural units represented by formula (103):
• where R231 to R234 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, R235 and R236 are groups of the same kind, representing an alkyl group containing 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and i231 represents an integer of 0 to 3;
• the group B including structural units represented by formulae (104), (105), and (106):
• where R241 to R244 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and X represents a single bond or a sulfonyl group;
• where R251 to R254 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and R256 and R257 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or halogenated alkyl group;
• where R261 to R264 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group, and W represents a cycloalkylidene group containing 5 to 12 carbon atoms.