Cobalt is a transition metal (atomic number 27) that plays a critical role in materials science, catalysis, and bioinorganic chemistry. In research, cobalt is central to the design of high-performance alloys, magnetic materials, and lithium-ion battery cathodes (e.g., layered cobalt oxides). Its variable oxidation states, primarily +2 and +3, underpin its function in coordination complexes and catalytic cycles, including oxidation, hydrogen evolution, and cross-coupling reactions. Cobalt is also essential in the corrin ring of cobalamins, influencing enzymatic methyl group transfer and radical-based rearrangements in metabolic pathways.
The element cobalt is considered a typical ferromagnet with no further secrets. However, an international team led by HZB researcher Dr. Jaime Sánchez-Barriga has now uncovered complex topological features in its electronic ...
Condensed Matter
Feb 11, 2026
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Researchers at Kumamoto University, in collaboration with colleagues in South Korea and Taiwan, have discovered that a unique cobalt-based molecule with metal–metal bonds can function as a spin quantum bit (spin qubit)—a ...
Condensed Matter
Jan 5, 2026
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Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper are essential for an energy transition away from fossil fuels—but America's perception of their importance isn't fully understood, which can slow progress.
Earth Sciences
Mar 12, 2025
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Two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXene) possess attractive conductivity and abundant surface functional groups, providing immense potential in the field of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. However, high conductivity ...
Nanomaterials
Mar 26, 2024
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There is an urgent need to address climate change, making the development of sustainable energy alternatives more important than ever. While proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have shown great promise for energy ...
Nanomaterials
Oct 11, 2023
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202
Using solar energy to convert CO2 into synthetic fuels is currently one of the most promising technologies to achieve carbon neutrality with the embedment of sustainable energy into our modern economy. However, the efficiency ...
Nanomaterials
Mar 15, 2023
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