[maghemite]. But after the glucose treatment on iron oxide, the ratio (33 at.%: 67 at.%) between Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ accords very well with the theoretical stoichiometry of Fe3O4, probably due to the carbothermal reaction associated with glucose treatment" . As explained by Song and coworkers, "C and H can act as oxygen getters during the decomposition of glucose because most of C and H from glucose (C6H12O6) preferentially tend to react with oxygen, as a result reducing the oxygen content in the pristine iron oxide".