In this work, the hematite alpha-Fe2O3 was synthesized by sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction and optical properties. The XRD patterns realized at different temperatures, show that pure hematite is obtained above 500 degrees C. The diffuse reflectance gives respectively direct and indirect optical transitions at 2.17 and 2.04 eV, in agreement with the red color. The capacitance measurement of alpha-Fe2O3 indicates p type behavior with a conduction band (-1.14 V vs. SCE), more cathodic than the H-2 evolution (similar to-0.8 V vs. SCE). The oxide was successfully tested for the hydrogen production under visible irradiation (29 mW cm(-2)). alpha-Fe2O3 is photo-electrochemically stable in alkaline medium by hole consumption reactions involving X2- (= SO32- and S2O32-) as hole scavengers. The best photocatalytic activity for H2 production was obtained on alpha-Fe2O3, calcined at 500 C, in (Na2S2O3 0.025 M, pH similar to 13), with an average evolution rate of 0.015 cm(3) h(-1) (mg catalyst)(-1) and a quantum efficiency of 0.26%. The system shows a tendency toward saturation, due to the competitive reduction of end products with the water reduction and the cathodic shift of the H-2 potential. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.