Arc-discharge-plasma irradiation of yttrium

In the present work, arc plasma irradiation of yttrium (Y) was performed and analysed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The observation of some new elements in Y after the arc-discharge is correlated with unexpected appearance of some impurities or possible disintegration of Y atoms. This serendipitous observation has direct implications on the use of such a technique for the development and purity of nanotubes as well as possibility of atomic interactions.