CoCl2
Cobalt(II) chloride · Cobaltous chloride
Cobalt(II) chloride is a stable, semimetallic inorganic compound widely utilized as a chemical reagent and precursor in industrial manufacturing.

About Cobalt(II) chloride
Cobalt(II) chloride is a well-characterized inorganic compound that exhibits near-zero-gap electronic behavior. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust material with significant structural versatility, evidenced by the high volume of reported experimental and theoretical structures.
This compound serves as a critical precursor in various chemical synthesis pathways and industrial processes. Its unique electronic character and stability make it a focal point for research into coordination chemistry and the development of functional materials, particularly where precise control over cobalt oxidation states is required.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Cobalt(II) chloride, aggregated across 3 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where Cobalt(II) chloride is used.
Patent Landscape
2 patents reference CoCl2 or close compositional variants.
| Patent | Title | Assignee | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4508798 | Cell with CoCl.sub.2 cathode | — | — |
| 4394366 | Process for production of CoCl.sub.2 solution from cobaltic oxide-hydrate | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cobalt(II) chloride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is CoCl2?
Cobalt(II) chloride is a stable, semimetallic inorganic compound widely utilized as a chemical reagent and precursor in industrial manufacturing.
What is CoCl2 used for?
What is the band gap of CoCl2?
Is CoCl2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is CoCl2 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of CoCl2 are known?
What elements does CoCl2 contain?
Where does the data for CoCl2 come from?
How It Compares
As a highly studied inorganic halide, Cobalt(II) chloride stands out for its structural reliability and accessibility. It serves as a benchmark material within the broader landscape of cobalt-based halides, providing a foundational reference point for understanding the electronic and thermodynamic trends of transition metal chlorides.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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