| abstract |
A noncrystalline silicon powder having excellent photoconductivity is described, comprising silicon and hydrogen, exhibiting an infrared absorption spectrum characterized by absorption peaks centered at about 2000 cm-1 and 630 cm-1, wherein the height of the absorbance peak at 2000 cm-1 is at least one-tenth the height of the peak centered at 630 cm-1, and exhibiting a spin density of not more than 1018 cm-3 determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy; the noncrystalline silicon powder is used as highly efficient photoconductor in photoconductive compositions utilized for the production of electrophotographic photoreceptors. |