Infrared studies of alkoxide gels.

Dried alkoxide silica gels were studied by infrared spectroscopy after equilibration with room air and with vacuum. H2O is reversibly adsorbed in the gel pores and held by hydrogen bonding to surface silanol groups. The rates of loss or gain of adsorbed water at room temperature differ according to the conditions of preparation, and the rates are characteristic of the pore size and shape distribution.