Iron oxide nanomaterials participate in redox processes that give them ideal properties for
their use as earth-abundant catalysts. Fabricating nanocatalysts for such applications
requires detailed knowledge of the deposition and growth. We report the spontaneous
deposition of iron oxide nanoparticles on HOPG in defect areas and on step edges from a
metal precursor solution. To study the nucleation and growth of iron oxide nanoparticles,
tailored defects were created on the surface of HOPG using various ion sources that serve …