Electrophotographic photoreceptor and image forming method and apparatus using the photoreceptor

An image forming method comprising:

• charging a photoreceptor such that the photoreceptor has a surface potential V;
• and
• irradiating the photoreceptor with a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image thereon,
• wherein the photoreceptor comprises:
• an electroconductive substrate;
• a charge generation layer overlying the substrate;
• a charge transport layer formed overlying the substrate and comprising a charge transport material, a polycarbonate resin, an antioxidant having the following formula (1):
• and a sulfur-containing compound having an alkyl group having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms;
• and
• a protective layer formed as a top layer and comprising a binder resin and a filler dispersed in the binder resin, and
• wherein the image forming method satisfies the following relationship:
• 12≦V/D≦40
• wherein V represents the surface potential of the photoreceptor in units of volt;
• and D represents a total thickness of the charge transport layer and the protective layer in units of micrometer.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photoreceptor;
• a charger configured to charge the photoreceptor with a charging element such that the photoreceptor has a surface potential V;
• a light irradiator configured to irradiate the photoreceptor with a light beam to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor;
• and
• an image developer configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with a toner to form a toner image on the photoreceptor,
• wherein the photoreceptor comprises:
• an electroconductive substrate;
• a charge generation layer overlying the substrate;
• a charge transport layer formed overlying the substrate and comprising a charge transport material, a polycarbonate resin, an antioxidant having the following formula (1):
• and a sulfur-containing compound having an alkyl group having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms;
• and
• a protective layer formed as a top layer and comprising a binder resin and a filler dispersed in the binder resin, wherein said charge transport layer is formed by coating a coating liquid comprising tetrahydrofuran, the charge transport material, the polycarbonate resin, the antioxidant and the sulfur-containing compound.

A process cartridge for an image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising:
• an electroconductive substrate;
• a charge generation layer overlying the substrate;
• a charge transport layer formed overlying the substrate and comprising a charge transport material, a polycarbonate resin, an antioxidant having the following formula (1):
• and a sulfur-containing compound having an alkyl group having from 6 to 30 carbon atoms;
• and
• a protective layer comprising a binder resin and a filler dispersed in the binder resin and formed as a top layer, wherein said charge transport layer is formed by coating a coating liquid comprising tetrahydrofuran, the charge transport material, the polycarbonate resin, the antioxidant and the sulfur-containing compound.