Multi-active electrophotographic element and imaging process using free radicals as charge transport material

Claim 2

A multi-active electrophotographic element comprising: a charge-generation layer; a charge-transport layer contiguous with said charge-generation layer, wherein said charge-transport layer comprises: a stable free radical compound defined by the formula: ##STR3## wherein: °C. is a carbon atom with an unpaired electron and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene, imino or halogen group; or a substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene or imino group; or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene or heterocyclic arylene group linking two or more °C. atoms; or are themselves linked; and a conductive support in electrical contact with either said charge-generation layer or said charge-transport layer.

Claim 3

The element of claim 1, wherein said stable free radical compound is chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-(p-isopropylphenyl)allyl, α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-(p-isopropenylphenyl)allyl, perchlorodiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, diphenylbiphenylmethyl, phenylbis(biphenyl)methyl, alkyl and alkoxy substituted triphenylmethyls, 4,4'-polymethylenebis(triphenylmethyl)s, pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl, perchlorophenylmethyl, (o-ethoxyphenyl)diphenylmethyl, 9-phenylfluorenyl, diphenyl-β-naphthylmethyl, α-methoxydiphenylmethyl, dimesitylmethYl, p,p'-triphenylenebis(diphenylmethyl), α-naphthylbis(biphenyl)methyl, pentaphenylethyl, bis(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)methyl, dibenzofulvenylmethyl, 4-(perchlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(perchlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl, perchlorotriphenylmethyl, 4-(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4',4"-tris(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(diphenylmethyl)biphenyl, and tris(4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl.

Claim 4

The element of claim 2, wherein said stable free radical compound is chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, 4,4'-bis(diphenylmethyl)biphenyl, and tris (4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl.

Claim 5

The element of claim 1, wherein said charge-generation layer is contiguous to both said charge-transport layer and said conductive support.

Claim 6

The element of claim 1, wherein said charge-transport layer is contiguous to both said charge-generation layer and said conductive support.

Claim 7

The element of claim 1 further comprising: a polymeric binder.

Claim 8

The element of claim 6, wherein said binder is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonates, polyesters, polyolefins, styrenic polymers, phenolic resins, paraffins, and mineral waxes.

Claim 9

The element of claim 7, wherein said binder is chosen from the group consisting of bisphenol-A polycarbonate polymers, copolymers of vinyl benzoates and vinyl acetate, and 5 poly[4,4'-(2-norbornylidene)bisphenyleneazelate-co-terephthalate)].

Claim 10

The element of claim 1 further comprising: an adhesive interlayer.

Claim 11

The element of claim 1, wherein said element is suitable for either neg-pos imaging or pos-pos imaging.

Claim 12

A multi-active electrophotographic element comprising: a charge-generation layer; a charge-transport layer contiguous with said charge-generation layer, wherein said charge-transport layer comprises: a polymeric binder; a stable free radical compound chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, α,γ-bis(diphenylmethyl) biphenyl, and tris(4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl; and a conductive support in electrical contact with said charge-generation layer.

Claim 13

A multi-active electrophotographic element comprising: a charge-generation layer; a charge-transport layer contiguous with said charge-generation layer, wherein said charge-transport layer comprises: a polymeric binder; a stable free radical compound chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, α,γ-bis(diphenylmethyl) biphenyl, and tris(4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl; and a conductive support in electrical contact with said charge-generation layer.

Claim 14

An electrophotographic process using a multi-active electrophotographic element comprising: a charge-generation layer; a charge-transport layer contiguous with said charge-generation layer, wherein said charge-transport layer comprises: a stable free radical compound defined by the formula: ##STR4## wherein: °C. is a carbon atom with an unpaired electron and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene, imino or halogen group; or a substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene or imino group; or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene or heterocyclic arylene group linking two or more °C. atoms; or are themselves linked; and a conductive support in electrical contact with either said charge-generation layer or said charge-transport layer, said process comprising: charging said element; exposing said charged element to activating radiation; and developing the charged and exposed element by applying charged toner particles to said element to produce a toned image.

Claim 15

An electrophotographic process using a multi-active electrophotographic element comprising: a charge-generation layer; a charge-transport layer contiguous with said charge-generation layer, wherein said charge-transport layer comprises: a stable free radical compound defined by the formula: ##STR4## wherein: °C. is a carbon atom with an unpaired electron and R 1 , R 2 , and R 3 are the same or different and each represent a hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene, imino or halogen group; or a substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene, heterocyclic arylene or imino group; or an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, arylene, alkylene or heterocyclic arylene group linking two or more °C. atoms; or are themselves linked; and a conductive support in electrical contact with either said charge-generation layer or said charge-transport layer, said process comprising: charging said element; exposing said charged element to activating radiation; and developing the charged and exposed element by applying charged toner particles to said element to produce a toned image.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 12, wherein the stable free radical compound is chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-(p-isopropylphenyl)allyl, α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-(p-isopropenyIphenyI)allyl, perchlorodiphenylmethyl, triphenylmethyl, diphenylbiphenylmethyl, phenylbis(biphenyl)methyl, alkyl and alkoxy substituted triphenylmethyls, 4,4'-polymethylenebis(triphenylmethyl)s, pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl, perchlorophenylmethyl, (o-ethoxyphenyl)diphenylmethyl, 9-phenylfluorenyl, diphenyl-β-naphthylmethyl, α-methoxydiphenylmethyl, dimesitylmethyl, p,p'-triphenylenebis(diphenylmethyl), α-naphthylbis(biphenyl)methyl, pentaphenylethYl, bis(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)methyl, dibenzofulvenylmethyl, 4-(perchlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(perchlorophenyl)diphenylmethyl, perchlorotriphenylmethyl, 4-(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4',4"-tris(perchlorophenyl)triphenylmethyl, 4,4'-bis(diphenylmethyl)biphenyl, and tris(4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 13, wherein the stable free radical compound is chosen from the group consisting of α,γ-bisdiphenylene-β-phenylallyl, 4,4'-bis(diphenylmethyl)biphenyl, and tris (4-E-tetrachlorophenyl)methyl, wherein E represents an electron-withdrawing group such as halo, nitro, alkoxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, cyano, keto, or sulfonyl.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 12, wherein said element and said toner particles are charged to perform pos-pos imaging.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 12, wherein said element and said toner particles are charged to perform neg-pos imaging.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 12 further comprising: transferring the toned image to a suitable receiver.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 17 further comprising: bonding said toned image to said receiver.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 17 further comprising: cleaning any residual toner particles not transferred to the receiver from said element for each print made.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 17, wherein the receiver is a substrate suitable for Permanently receiving a toned image as a print.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 17 wherein said receiver is suitable for overhead projection.