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

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin-relaxation mechanism in potassium-doped graphite (KC8) using ESR measurements, demonstrating the applicability of the Elliott-Yafet mechanism and positioning KC8 among elemental metals on the Beuneu-Monod plot.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence supporting the Elliott-Yafet spin-relaxation mechanism in a model biased graphene system, KC8.

Findings

ESR linewidth is nearly isotropic

ESR linewidth correlates with resistivity

KC8 aligns with elemental metals on Beuneu-Monod plot

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.