A new photo-catalyst based on Fe2O3 supported on carbon spheres (CSs) to improve the charge transport property of Fe2O3 in the photo-reduction of water under light irradiation is reported. The CSs (d 560 nm) were prepared by a non-catalytic CVD method from C2H2 and characterized by XRD, UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, chemical analysis and TEM. Fe (10%) was added onto the CSs using a deposition precipitation method. The Fe-CS material exhibited a band gap of 1.17 eV and a hydrogen evolution rate similar to 370 mol/g s in Na2SO4 electrolyte (pH similar to 7). This is an improved photo-activity, relative to Fe2O3 mixed with CSs (179 mol/g s), Fe2O3 (147 mol/g s) and CSs (281 mol/g s) and the enhanced activity is attributed to the light absorption behavior of the carbon spheres, the Fe2O3 as well as the intimate contact between Fe2O3 and the CSs. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.