Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus

A process cartridge detachably attachable to a main body of an electrophotographic apparatus, the process cartridge comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• and
• at least one device selected from the group consisting of a charging device, a developing device, and a cleaning device,
• wherein the process cartridge integrally supports the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the at least one device,
• the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, a charge generating layer containing a charge generation material, and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transport material in this order, the charge transporting layer serving as a surface layer, and
• the charge transporting layer contains:
• a polycarbonate resin (i) having a structural unit represented by formula (1-1), a structural unit represented by formula (1-2), and a structural unit represented by formula (1-3),
• a polycarbonate resin (ii) having a structural unit represented by formula (2-1), a structural unit represented by formula (2-2), and a structural unit represented by formula (2-3),
• a polycarbonate resin (iii) having a structural unit represented by formula (3-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (3-2), or
• a polycarbonate resin (iv) having a structural unit represented by formula (4-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (4-2),
• in the formula (1-1), R11 to R14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group,
• in the formula (1-2), R15 to R18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a sulfonyl group,
• in the formula (1-3), R211 to R214 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R215 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R216 and R217 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms;
• and i211 represents an integer of 0 to 3,
• in the formula (2-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a phenyl group,
• in the formula (2-2), R15 to R18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a sulfonyl group,
• in the formula (2-3), R211 to R214 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R215 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R216 and R217 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms;
• and i211 represents an integer of 0 to 2,
• in the formula (3-1), R1 to R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R5 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms;
• and i represents an integer of 0 to 3,
• in the formula (3-2), R6 to R9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom,
• in the formula (4-1), R11 to R15 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a phenyl group, and R16 represents a linear alkyl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, and
• in the formula (4-2), R21 to R24 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a phenyl group, and X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a single bond, or a sulfonyl group.

An electrophotographic apparatus comprising:

• an electrophotographic photosensitive member;
• a charging device;
• an exposure device;
• a developing device;
• and
• a transfer device,
• wherein the electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, a charge generating layer containing a charge generation material, and a charge transporting layer containing a charge transport material in this order, the charge transporting layer serving as a surface layer, and
• the charge transporting layer contains:
• a polycarbonate resin (i) having a structural unit represented by formula (1-1), a structural unit represented by formula (1-2), and a structural unit represented by formula (1-3),
• a polycarbonate resin (ii) having a structural unit represented by formula (2-1), a structural unit represented by formula (2-2), and a structural unit represented by formula (2-3),
• a polycarbonate resin (iii) having a structural unit represented by formula (3-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (3-2), or
• a polycarbonate resin (iv) having a structural unit represented by formula (4-1) and a structural unit represented by formula (4-2),
• in the formula (1-1), R11 to R14 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group,
• in the formula (1-2), R15 to R18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a sulfonyl group,
• in the formula (1-3), R211 to R214 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R215 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R216 and R217 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms;
• and i211 represents an integer of 0 to 3,
• in the formula (2-1), R represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a phenyl group,
• in the formula (2-2), R15 to R18 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents a single bond, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or a sulfonyl group,
• in the formula (2-3), R211 to R214 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R215 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R216 and R217 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms;
• and i211 represents an integer of 0 to 2,
• in the formula (3-1), R1 to R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group;
• R5 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms;
• and i represents an integer of 0 to 3,
• in the formula (3-2), R6 to R9 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an alkoxy group, and X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom,
• in the formula (4-1), R11 to R15 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a phenyl group, and R16 represents a linear alkyl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms, and
• in the formula (4-2), R21 to R24 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a phenyl group, and X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a single bond, or a sulfonyl group.