Transparent alpha-Fe2O3 films with varying film thickness were formed on a SnO2 transparent conducting film-coated glass substrate by metal organic deposition. Under anodic-biased conditions, the alpha-Fe2O3 film showed a high photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of 2-NAP with visible light irradiation. The alpha-Fe2O3 is transformed to inactive hydroxide as the reaction proceeds, while the activity of alpha-Fe2O3 is almost maintained in acetonitrile. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.