Incorporation of iron nanoparticles (FeNP) induced changes in the textural and electrical properties of SBA-15-like silica. Electron microscopy showed that FeNP dispersion occurs mainly inside the channels. Diffuse UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy revealed a band gap decrease from 2.68 eV to 2.59 eV. Nyquist plots (Z" versus Z') were found to fit with an equivalent circuit model consisting of a resistance Rs, a double layer capacitance Q, an electron-transfer resistance R-et and a Warburg impedance Z(w). FeNPs and silica deprotonation seem to be responsible of conductance change. SBA-15-Fe appears to be a promising material for electrodes and semi-conductors. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.