V-Al-C thin films were deposited from a compound powder metallurgical composite target by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering and High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HIPIMS) at 500 degrees C with a time averaged power of 250 W. The effect of pressure, distance, substrate bias potential as well as duty cycle of HIPIMS on the film composition and structure evolution was investigated. The formation of nano-crystalline V2AlC MAX phase is observed in a (V,Al)(2)C-x matrix at 500 degrees C during HIPIMS at 3-10% duty cycle. An ion energy flux of >5.7 times of the conventional DC magnetron sputtering flux was identified to be prerequisite for V2AlC MAX phase formation. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.