The hematite alpha-Fe2O3 is prepared by sol-gel route at 900 degrees C. Structural and morphological characterizations are investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The SEM image shows a monophasic structure with a chemical composition uniformly distributed, based on sintered agglomerates particles with no particular orientation. The EDS characterization shows wide non-stochiometry (O/Fe = 0.72). The X-ray diffraction indicates an orthorhombic crystalline structure with an average crystallite size of 87 nm and a surface specific area of 13.3 m(2) g(-1). The hematite exhibits n-type conduction with direct (1.99 eV) and indirect (1.75 eV) optical transitions. The electrochemical properties are investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and constant charge-discharge methods in Na2SO3 (1 M) and NaOH (1 M) electrolytes. The CV characteristics show a typical pseudo-capacitive electrode behavior, associated with a faradic mechanism. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy carried out over the frequency range (1 mHz-100 kHz) exhibits a dominant pseudo-capacitive behavior at low frequencies. The pseudo-capacitive phenomenon is preceded by diffusion process, implying a blocking behavior at high frequencies. The super capacitive properties of Fe2O3 at a scan rate of 5 mV s(-1) show a maximum super capacitance of 4.915 and 48.21 Fg(-1) in NaOH and Na2SO3, respectively. A typical charge-discharge behavior at 5 mA over a potential window of 1.2V is obtained with coulombic efficiency approaching 100% in both electrolytes. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.