Study demonstrates that Ta₂NiSe₅ is not an excitonic insulator

The excitonic insulator is an electronically driven phase of matter that can occur in solids. Scientists are searching for ways to detect and stabilize this exotic order in candidate quantum materials because it could pave the way towards superfluid energy transport with no net charge (which is distinct from superconductivity). If realized, this phenomenon could lead to a new generation of devices where energy is transported at the nanoscale with high coherence and minimal dissipation.