Cobalt(II) chloride hexahydrate can be used as a catalyst:
- To convert various aldoximes into corresponding nitriles in the presence of an inorganic base.
- To prepare organic-inorganic polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber composites (PVDF/CoCl2) for the production of pure hydrogen production from NaBH4.
It can also be used as a cobalt precursor to synthesize nickel-cobalt-based binary metal phosphide (NiCoP) hollow spheres, which are used for electrocatalysis and energy storage (supercapacitor) applications.