Kagome staircase lattice of Co²⁺ ions in Co₃V₂O₈ is attractive due to complex magnetic structure involved by geometric frustration. Mg₃V₂O₈ is nonmagnetic compound with the same crystal structure and with the lattice parameters very close to that of Co₃V₂O₈. Due to incongruent melting of these compounds one of the useful method of crystallization is a growth by the floating zone method in the traveling solvent zone configuration.

In this work we discuss process of growing of the mixed crystals Co_3-xMg_xV₂O₈. In the Co-reach region it is interesting to investigate the influence of perturbation of the Co system (by replacing part of Co by Mg ions) on magnetic properties. On the other hand, the magnesium reach region is interesting for EPR and optical measurements for determination of crystal field parameters of Co ions. Solid state synthesis has been performed by sintering the pressed mixture of stoichiometric amounts of CoO, MgO and V₂O₅. Single crystals have been grown from polycrystalline feed rods by floating zone technique carried out in the optical image furnace under O₂ atmosphere.

Crystal structure of these materials is based on slightly deformed cubic close packing of oxygen ions. 3/8 of existing octahedral positions are occupied by Co²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ions and 1/8 of tetrahedral positions by V⁵⁺ ions. Possible migration of cations may involve the perturbation of crystal symmetry resulting the twinning effect sometimes observed in grown crystals.

The work was supported by the Polish State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN) under the project 1 P03B 038 27.

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