Study of the structure, morphology, and elemental composition of evaporation products of arc discharge on a combined graphite-vanadium anode

The crystal structure, morphology, and elemental composition of evaporation products of argon arc discharge on graphite electrodes containing vanadium have been studied. It is shown that vanadium carbide V$_8$C$_7$ synthesized under these conditions enters the compositions of both the sputtering products formed on the walls of discharge chamber and outgrowth (deposit) formed on the cathode. Carbon fibers up to 0.5 $\mu$m in diameter, with external layers reinforced by vanadium carbide molecules, have been found in this outgrowth for the first time. These fibers are assumed to be multiwall microtubes. In addition, the outgrowth contains carbide microcrystals and fibers covered with microcrystals.