Photoelectrographic elements utilizing nonionic sulfonic acid photogenerators

A photoelectrographic method for printing using a photoelectrographic element comprising a conductive layer in electrical contact with an acid photogenerating layer which is free of photopolymerizable materials and comprises an electrically insulating binder and a nonionic sulfonic acid photogenerator and exhibits consistent performance at variable relative humidities, said method comprising:

• exposing the acid photogenerating layer imagewise to radiation without prior charging to create a permanent latent conductivity pattern and
• printing an image from the latent conductivity pattern, said printing comprising:
• charging said element with the acid photogenerating layer having a latent conductivity pattern to create a electrostatic latent image;
• developing the electrostatic latent image by applying charged toner particles to said element to produce a toned image;
• and
• transferring the toned image to a suitable receiver, wherein said printing is carried out one time for each print made.

A photoelectrographic element for electrostatic imaging which exhibits consistent performance at variable relative humidities comprising a conductive layer in electrical contact with an acid photogenerating layer which is free of photopolymerizable materials and comprises:

• an electrically insulating binder selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyesters, polyolefins, phenolic resins, paraffins, mineral waxes and aromatic esters of a poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer;
• a nonionic sulfonic acid photogenerator selected from the group consisting of the sulfonate esters of the N-hydroxyamides and N-hydroxyimides;
• and
• a near-ultraviolet radiation absorbing sensitizer selected from the group consisting of xanthones, indandiones, indanones, throxanthones, acetophenones, benzophenones, anthracenes, dialkoxyanthracenes, perylenes, phenothiazines, and pyrenes;
• wherein said element has a .DELTA.Fm value less than about 0.10.