Iron oxide thin films were prepared by chemical vapor deposition. The source material was iron (III) acetylacetonate. The Fe2O3 films were produced at a substrate temperature above 200 degrees C. The films deposited at a substrate temperature above 300 degrees C were polycrystalline beta-Fe2O3. Reduction and oxidation of the amorphous films in a 0.3 M LiClO4 propylene carbonate solution caused desirable changes in optical absorption. Coulometry indicated that the coloration efficiency was 6.0 to 6.5 cm(2) C-1.