Improvement in the hydrogen evolution is reported over alpha-Fe2O3 supported on Algerian natural clay. The hetero-system is prepared by impregnation and calcination at 450 degrees C. It was characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and photo electrochemistry. The hematite Fe2O3 crystallizes in the corundum structure and exhibits n-type conductivity with a flat band potential of -0.88 V-SCE. Hence, the photo electrons located in Fe2O3-CB (-1 V-SCE) have high ability to reduce water into hydrogen. alpha-Fe2O3 gets effectively dispersed in the clay and the photoactivity increases with increasing its content. SO32-, working as hole scavenger, provides an absolute protection against the photo corrosion and favors the charges separation. The best performance of H-2 evolution occurs at alkaline pH on 10% Fe2O3/clay with a liberation rate 0.121 mu mol/mg/min and a quantum efficiency of 1.2%. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.