Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were etched by EtOH treating. Such treated MWCNTs were deposited from solution phase onto the nanostructured CeO2 films. High resolution images by both transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that the nanographite fractions are existed in the solution and they were also reorganized on the surface. On the nanostructured surface of specific morphology, the nanographite fractions are deposited into the valleys between the CeO2 islands and therefore a selective pattern of nanographite was formed. Molecular dynamics calculations highlighted that adsorption and reorganization properties of the nanographite layers have considerable dependence on the morphology of CeO2 nanostructures. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.