Patent ID: 6197471
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: C23C,G03G

Abstract:
A method of making a photoreceptor member comprising a conductive substrate and a photoconductive layer, which method comprises:a) providing an evacuable chamber with at least one target comprising silicon, said target being electrically insulated from an electrically conductive structure of said chamber;b) providing said chamber with a substrate support having a heatable substrate-supporting surface and a conductive substrate mounted on said heatable supporting surface, wherein at least a substrate surface is electrically conductive, and wherein said conductive substrate surface or said heatable supporting surface is electrically insulated from said electrically conductive structure of said chamber;c) reducing the pressure in said chamber and providing a gaseous flow comprising argon and hydrogen atoms into said chamber to form a gaseous chamber atmosphere;d) capacitively coupling a radio-frequency generator between said target and said electrically conductive structure of said chamber, said generator providing a voltage and operating at a frequency such as to cause said target to develop a direct-current potential with respect to said electrically conductive structure of said chamber;e) electrically coupling a direct-current power supply between said electrically conductive structure of said chamber and said conductive substrate surface or heatable surface such that said power supply maintains said conductive substrate surface or heatable supporting surface at a direct-current potential with respect to said electrically conductive structure of said chamber while providing a current flow to said conductive substrate surface or heatable supporting surface; andf) forming a photoconductive layer of 5 micra or less in thickness on said substrate by sputter-depositing an amorphous material i) consisting of silicon from said target and ii) further comprising hydrogen atoms from said chamber atmosphere while maintaining the ratio of partial pressure of hydrogen in said chamber atmosphere to a deposition rate of said amorphous material onto said substrate between 2.8 mTorr.multidot.hour/.mu.m and 6.1 mTorr.multidot.hour/.mu.m, said conductive substrate surface or heatable supporting surface being maintained at a direct-current potential between -40 volts and -100 volts, whereby providing a photoreceptor member having dark resistivities of at least 10.sup.13 ohm.multidot.cm.