Toner

Abstract

A toner includes toner particles containing a binder resin, a colorant, and inorganic fine particles, in which in a depth profile of an element distribution in a depth region from the outermost surface of a particle to a depth of 500 nm the depth profile being obtained by an element analysis performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using the toner as a sample, two or more minimum points of a concentration of a carbon element in the depth region exist, a concentration of an inorganic element becomes a maximum value at a depth position corresponding to each of the minimum points, and the inorganic element is an element derived from the inorganic fine particle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A toner comprising a toner particle, the toner particle containing a binder resin, a colorant and an inorganic fine particle, wherein
 in a depth profile of an element distribution in a depth region from the outermost surface of a particle to a depth of 500 nm, the depth profile being obtained by an element analysis performed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy using the toner as a sample,
 (i) two or more minimum points of a concentration of a carbon element in the depth region exist, 
 (ii) a concentration of an inorganic element becomes a maximum value at a depth position corresponding to each of the minimum points, and 
 (iii) the inorganic element is an element derived from the inorganic fine particle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic fine particle contains a silica fine particle. 
     
     
         3 . The toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the inorganic fine particle contains a strontium titanate fine particle. 
     
     
         4 . The toner according to  claim 1 , wherein when a concentration of all elements in the depth region measured by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is 100%,
 a concentration of the carbon element at each of the minimum points is 90% or less.   
     
     
         5 . The toner according to  claim 1 , wherein the toner particle contains a crystalline polyester.