The iron oxide nanoparticles were loaded onto self-organized TiO2 nanotube layers grown by anodization of Ti in fluoride containing electrolytes. The nanoparticles were obtained by electrodepositing method in glycerol/water/FeCl3 center dot 6H(2)O electrolytes at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed that the nanoparticles consisted of iron nanocrystalline (Fe) and magnetite (Fe3O4). The hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) structure was obtained by annealing in air at 450 degrees C. The growth mechanism of the nanoparticles and their morphology were also described. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited good ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.