Lock-in spin structures and ferrimagnetism in polar Ni2−xCoxScSbO6 oxides.

The new phase Co₂ScSbO₆ and Ni_2−xCo_xScSbO₆ solid solutions adopt the polar Ni₃TeO₆-type structure and order magnetically below 60 K. A series of long-period lock-in [0 0 1/3n] spin structures with n = 5, 6, 8 and 10 is discovered, coexisting with a ferrimagnetic [0 0 0] phase at high Co-contents. The presence of electrical polarisation and spontaneous magnetisations offers possibilities for multiferroic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]