A photoconductive element is described, comprising an amorphous silicon sensor and a transparent, insulative protective layer on the sensor, said protective layer comprising polymers or copolymers (including terpolymers, etc.) having one of four specific types of recurring units, or mixtures thereof, or polymer compositions composed mainly of the above polymers or copolymers; such a photoconductive element shows reduced damage of the sensor as compared to the conventional technique, and permits increases in productivity and decreases in production costs.