High-quality single crystal growth and spin flop of multiferroic Co4Nb2O9

A single crystal of Co4Nb2O9 about 7 mm in diameter and 55 mm in length was successfully grown by an optical floating zone method. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) indicates that it has a single phase corundum-type structure. Clear Laue spots and sharp XRD peaks confirm the good quality and crystallographic orientations. Below TN, magnetization of Co4Nb2O9 along a axis shows dramatically different behaviors between H=1 kOe and 20 kOe, suggesting a spin flop occurs along a axis. Ma(H) curve at 5 K shows a change of slope at a critical magnetic field of 7.5 kOe for triggering the spin flip.