Cationic doping effect on the structural, magnetic and spectroscopic properties of delafossite oxides CuCr1−x(Sc,Mg)xO2

► (Sc,Mg) non-magnetic replacement of the Cr in the magnetic frustrated CuCrO2. ► Delafossite solid solution is maintained in this system. ► Strain generated by (Sc,Mg) substitution is strongly anisotropic. ► Thermal stability in oxygen is affected. ► High temperature paramagnetic behavior and weak ferromagnetism at low temperature.