Electrical measurements on iridium dioxide nanorods

Iridium dioxide (IrO2) nanorods have been prepared by metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition method. Applying the standard electron‐beam lithography technique, a single nanorod with a diameter of 110 nm is contacted by three Cr/Au fingers from above. The resistance measurements on this nanorod have been performed between 10 and 300 K, using different probe configurations. We observe that the resistivity ρ of the nanorod has a value ⩽ 120 μΩ cm at 300 K. On the other hand, the temperature dependence of the contact resistance R obeys the law logR ∝ T−1/2 below 100 K. The conduction process through the contact is ascribed to the transport of electrons via hopping in granular metals accidentally formed at the contact region.