Chemical bonding between aromatic molecules and glass surfaces

Chemical bonding between a solid surface (Vycor) and aromatic molecules attached to the surface by reaction with corresponding Li salt was studied by the following two spectroscopic methods: ESCA, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and UV and visible range absorption. Our results show that (i) benzene molecules replace the silanolic group on the Vycor surface with an efficiency of ∼10% and (ii) a chemical bond between biphenyl molecules and the Vycor surface is formed. This is shown by absorption in the UV range being shifted toward lower energies and a new absorption maximum appearing in the visible range (∼570 nm).