  We investigate anomalous electrical transport properties of a Ni-TiO2 hybrid
system displaying a unique nanostructured morphology. The system undergoes an
insulator to metal transition below 150 K with a low temperature metallic phase
that shows negative resistance in a four-probe configuration. Temperature
dependent transport measurements and numerical modelling show that the
anomalies originate from the dendritic architecture of the TiO2 backbone
interspersed with Ni nanoparticles that paradoxically renders this
polycrystalline, heterogeneous system highly anisotropic. The study critiques
inferences that may be drawn from four-probe transport measurements and offers
valuable insights into modelling conductivity of anisotropic hybrid materials.
