Silsesquioxane sol-gel materials as overcoats for organic photoreceptors

Organic photoreceptors for use in electrophotographic processes may be over coated to impart wear and scratch resistance, to protect the surface from c orona generated chemicals, and to improve the efficiency of electrophotogra phic process steps, such as toner transfer and cleaning. In this article, w e will discuss the use of silsesquioxanes prepared by the sol-gel process a s photoreceptor overcoats. Included in our discussion will be the chemistry and procedures involved in overcoat fabrication, the methods used to deter mine the effects of the overcoat on the physical and electrophotographic ch aracteristics of the photoreceptor, and the effects of the silsesquioxane c hemical structure on these characteristics.