Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the solid-solution phase Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2-} {sub v} Sc {sub v} O{sub 6}

The two crystallographically non-equivalent Co atoms of the quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure of Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2}O{sub 6} form chains with alternating, face-sharing polyhedra of Co2O{sub 6} trigonal prisms and Co1O{sub 6} octahedra. This compound forms a substitutional solid-solution phase with Sc, in which the Sc atoms enter the Co2 sublattice exclusively. The homogeneity range of Ca{sub 3}Co{sub 2-} {sub v} Sc {sub v} O{sub 6} (more specifically Ca{sub 3}Co1Co2{sub 1-} {sub v} Sc {sub v} O{sub 6}) extends up to v{approx}0.55. The crystal structure belongs to space group R3-barc with lattice parameters (in hexagonal setting): 9.0846(3){