Through a one-step procedure, covalent bonding of Disperse-Red-1 (DR1) dye to the internal surface of HMS silica has been achieved, leading to anchored molecules freely accessible to gases. Template removal by different solvents yields surface with different polarities, which affect the optical properties of DR1. This effect is dramatic when extraction is carried out in refluxing ethanol, because ethoxylation of the silica surface occurs. To cite this article: B.