“…233 Thus, the formation of a surface RuO2 nuclei, catalyze the O2 dissociation, selfaccelerating the oxide growth process. 234 This results in a self-limited growth of ~1.6 nm-thick RuO2(110) layer on Ru(001) surface over a large temperature, and O2 pressure range from ~280 to ~380°C, and 10 -4 to 10 mbar, respectively. 230 However, since this autocatalytic oxidation process for Ru and, other metals such as Pb, 235 in general, occurs at enhanced temperatures, where the kinetic barriers for oxide formation ("nucleation") are overcome, thermodynamics become more relevant.…”