The vacuum ultra-violet absorption of O2 and H2O molecules incorporated at interstitial voids in SiO2 glass by annealing was studied. Interactions of the interstitial molecules with the surrounding SiO2 glass network led to a red-shift of the vacuum ultra-violet absorption band of interstitial O2, but to a blue-shift of that of interstitial H2O. Both were accompanied by an increase in the intensity of the absorption bands. Coulomb repulsion, London dispersion and H-bonding were the main interactions which were responsible for modification of the vacuum ultra-violet absorption bands.

Vacuum-Ultraviolet Absorption of Interstitial O2 and H2O Molecules in SiO2 Glass. K.Kajihara, M.Hirano, L.Skuja, H.Hosono: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2006, 352[23-25], 2303-6