Surface fluorination of electrophotographic photoreceptors by plasma treatment for contact charging with a wet polymer roller

In order to increase the hydrophobicity of an organic photoreceptor (OPC) surface for contact charging with a wet polymer roller, surface fluorination treatment was carried out on OPC drums using CF4 rf plasma, and the charging characteristics and surface properties were examined. The hydrophobicity of the plasma-treated OPC drum surface was evaluated by measuring the water contact angle and the water extinction time due to evaporation. It was confirmed that the hydrophobicity of the OPC drum surface was improved considerably by the plasma treatment with little influence on the contact charging characteristics. XPS analysis indicated that fluorine was introduced into the OPC surface by the plasma treatment and its fraction increased with an increase in the treatment time. Further, the XPS spectra suggested that CF, CF2 and CF3 bonds existed on the plasma-treated OPC surface.