Disclosed is a photoreceptor comprising a support and a photosensitive layer which contains an azo compound of the formula (I): wherein P_I and P₂ are independently a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, an acetylamido group, an alkylsulfonyl group, (Q₁ is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenyl group, an amino group, a hydroxy group or a hydrogen atom) or Q₂-C- (Q₁, Q₃ and Q₄independently are a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenyl group, an acyl group, an ester group, a hydroxy group or a vinyl group), the alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl group, amino group and vinyl group may have a substituent;

Y₁ and Y₂ independently are a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group or an- alkoxy group; m and n each represent an integer of 0 to 2, and m and n cannot be both 0; A represents a group representend by any one of the following formulae: wherein Z is a group of atoms necessary for constituting a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring, P₃ is a substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted sulfamoyl group, R₁ is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group, a carboxyl group and its ester group or a cyano group, A' is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R₂ and R₃ independently are a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

Disclosed is a photoreceptor comprising a support and a photosensitive layer which contains an axo compounf of the formula [i]: wherein Q is a halogen atom, a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an aryl group, an acetylamido group, (Q, is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenyl group, an amino group, a hydroxy group or a hydrogen atom) or (Q,, Q₃ and Q₄ independently are an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, a phenyl group, an acyl group, an ester group, a hydroxy group, a cyano group, a vinyl group, a halogen atom or a hydrogen atom), said alkyl group, alkoxy group, aryl group, amino group and vinyl group may have a substituent; Y, and Y₂ independently are hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group; m and n each represent an integer of 0 to 2, and m and n cannot be both 0; A represents a group represented

by any one of the following formulae: wherein Z is a group of atoms necessary for constituting a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring. P₃ is a substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted sulfamoyl group. R. is a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, a substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl group, a carboxyl group and its ester group or a cyano group, A' is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R, and R₃ independently are a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.