Testing the Elliott-Yafet spin-relaxation mechanism in KC8; a model system of biased graphene

Abstract

Temperature dependent electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements are reported on stage 1 potassium doped graphite, a model system of biased graphene. The ESR linewidth is nearly isotropic and although the g-factor has a sizeable anisotropy, its majority is shown to arise due to macroscopic magnetization. Albeit the homogeneous ESR linewidth shows an unusual, non-linear temperature dependence, it appears to be proportional to the resistivity which is a quadratic function of the temperature. These observations suggests the validity of the Elliott-Yafet relaxation mechanism in KC8 and allows to place KC8 on the empirical Beuneu-Monod plot among ordinary elemental metals.