Iron oxide thin films have been obtained by spray pyrolysis using 100% methanolic and ethanolic solutions of iron trichloride. The films were deposited onto ITO-coated glass substrates. The preparative conditions have been optimized to obtain compact, pin-hole-free and smooth thin films which are adherent to the substrate. The structural, morphological and compositional characterizations have been carried out by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The films deposited using ethanolic solution results into pure hematite; alpha-Fe2O3 thin films, however, films deposited using methanolic solution consists of hematite and maghemite-c phases of iron oxide. The films are nanocrystalline with particle size of 30-40 nm. The optical absorbance of the film was of the order of 10(5) cm(-1). The optical band gap of films was found to be 2.26 and 2.20 eV for the films deposited using methanolic and ethanolic solutions, respectively. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.