Vanadium pentoxide V2O5

V2O5 · CAS 1314-62-1 · orthorhombic, Pmmn

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is a yellow-to-red oxide of vanadium with the vanadium in its +5 state.

10 sources · Updated 2026-10-26 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

2 of 5

Lab-measured

Thermal sensing (lab film)

TCR -3.18 %/K

Catalysis

Sulfuric acid and maleic anhydride

Melting point

690 °C

Recipe, share of the weight

  • V not statedVanadium
  • O not statedOxygen

Best for

Lab-scale thermometer films for uncooled infrared sensors, and as a vanadium source for flow batteries and catalysts

Weakest at

Toxicity. Fatal if inhaled (H330) and toxic if swallowed (H301) in the aggregated EU classification, with an occupational limit of 0.05 mg/m3 as V

Risk at a glance

  • People High. Toxic dust and fume, H330 fatal if inhaled
  • If it fails High. Vanadate attack on a nickel alloy at high temperature
  • Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded

Quick facts: V2O5

Key properties of V2O5
PropertyValueBasis
Density3.41 sourced value
Melting point681 to 690 °C2 sourced values across conditions
Electrical resistivity0.000025 to 0.00047 Ω·m4 sourced values across conditions

What is the density of Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5)?

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) has a density of 3.4. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.

What is the melting point of Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5)?

Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) has a melting point of 681 to 690 °C. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.

What is Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) used for?

Uses recorded in the sources include Vanadium redox flow battery for grid-scale energy storage; Uncooled infrared microbolometer thermometer film, lab-made from sputtered V2O5 and vanadium layers.

Why it exists

Vanadium pentoxide is used in industry as a catalyst for sulfuric acid and maleic anhydride, and as a route to vanadium metal and ferrovanadium. In this collection it matters for flow batteries and for infrared sensor films, both of which depend on vanadium chemistry. The data come from safety cards, databases and laboratory papers. No flight record for V2O5 itself was found.

Where it's used

Catalysts for sulfuric acid and maleic anhydride

The USGS says the major non-metallurgical use of vanadium is in catalysts that make maleic anhydride and sulfuric acid.

Flow batteries

The USGS says vanadium redox flow batteries kept being used for large-scale energy storage in 2025, and it calls high-purity vanadium feedstock a key challenge.

Infrared sensor films (laboratory)

Sputtered V2O5 and vanadium films, annealed at 300 °C, reached TCRs between -1.1181 and -3.18 %/K. The authors say they suit microbolometer applications.

Glazes and glass

PubChem lists V2O5 as a ceramic colouring material and as an agent that inhibits UV transmission in glass.

Recipe

V2O5

V2O5 is an oxide of vanadium with two vanadium and five oxygen per formula unit. Vanadium can take several oxidation states, which is the basis of its redox and catalytic chemistry.

What V2O5 is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat it does
Vanadium V not stated The metal centre. Vanadium changes between oxidation states as the oxide is reduced or reoxidised, which is what makes it useful in batteries and catalysts.
Oxygen O not stated Bonded to the vanadium in the orthorhombic lattice. The oxide gives up oxygen reversibly between 700 and 1125 °C.

Weight shares are as printed in the sources.

What it can do

Thermal sensing (lab film)

TCR -3.18 %/K

A sputtered V2O5 and vanadium multilayer annealed in N2 for 30 min reached -3.18 %/K at a resistivity of 0.04718 Ω·cm.

Catalysis

Sulfuric acid and maleic anhydride

The USGS names both as the main non-metallurgical catalyst uses of vanadium.

Melting point

690 °C

The ICSC card gives a melting point of 690 °C. PubChem's HSDB record gives 681 °C.

How it compares

V2O5 melts at 690 °C and decomposes at 1750 °C. Its film TCRs in this record range from -1.1181 to -3.18 %/K, depending on the anneal, so the anneal is the main control on the film result. The carbide and nitride in the related section are hard materials, and their hardness values are given there.

The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.

Benchmarks
MeasurementV2O5Al2O3BaTiO3BeOCaTiO3RCFCeO2CoO and Co3O4CuO, Cu2OHfO2Fe2O3, Fe3O4LSMPZTMgONiONb2O5Al2Si4O10(OH)2Ln2O3SiOMgO-SiO2SnO2, ITOTiO2WO3Y2O3ZnOMg-PSZ, ATZ, ZTAYSZ
Thermal behavior and safety
Melting point, ICSC card690 °C12030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno datano datano data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
Melting point, HSDB record in PubChemValue in PubChem experimental properties681 °C22030 to 2072 °C1625 °C2578 °C1975 °C1760 °C2600 °C1830 °C1326 °C2774 °Cno datano datano data2800 °C1984 °C1500 °Cno data2304 °C1702 °Cno data1630 °C1850 °C1472 °C2410 °C1975 °Cno datano data
Physical and electrical
Relative density, water = 13.4 -43.72 g/cm³6.08 -3.01 g/cu cm4.1 g/cc64 kg/m37.65 g/cm³6.45 g/cm³6 -9.68 g/cc5.24 g/cm³2 g/cm³7.8 g/cm³3.58 g/cm³6.67 g/cm³4.6 g/cm³2.3 g/cc6.51 g/cm³2.13 g/cc2.8 g/cm³6.95 g/mL4 g/cm³7.2 g/cm³> 4.9 g/cm³5.67 g/cm³5.72 g/cm³6.02 g/cm³
Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 30 min0.01477 Ω·cm10no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 40 min0.00819 Ω·cm11no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 30 min0.04718 Ω·cm12no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 40 min0.002527 Ω·cm13no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Temperature behavior
Decomposition temperature1750 °C3no datano datano datano datano datano data1170 Kno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 30 min-3.004 %/K6no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 40 min-2.496 %/K7no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 30 min-3.18 %/K8no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 40 min-1.118 %/K9no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Other measurements
Solubility in water0.8 g/100ml5no datano data2 ug/100 mLno datano datano data4.88 mg/Lno datano datano datano datano data86 mg/L3×10^-5 g/lno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Molecular weight, V2O5Computed property in the PubChem record181.9 g/molno datano datano datano datano data172.1 g/molno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data265.8 g/molno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data

Why choose it, and why not

Good for

  • Vanadium redox flow batteries. The USGS reports continued use for long-duration grid storage in 2025.
  • Laboratory infrared sensor films. Annealed V2O5 and vanadium films reached TCRs of -1.1181 to -3.18 %/K.

Watch out for

  • Toxicity. The EU harmonised classification lists H301, H330 and H350, and PubChem gives a probable oral lethal dose of 5 to 50 mg/kg.
  • Dust. The ICSC card calls for dust control, with an exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3 as V.
  • Molten salt. With sodium sulfate at 700 to 800 °C, V2O5 attacks nickel alloys such as Inconel 625.
  • Conflicting data. Melting point 681 or 690 °C, and water solubility 0.8 g/100 ml on the ICSC card against 0.07 g/100 g in PubChem.

V2O5 is a well-studied oxide with a clear industrial role in catalysis and a place in flow batteries. It is toxic as powder and fume, and the infrared results come from laboratory films rather than bulk material, so treat those values as laboratory data.

Technical details

For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.

Notes

The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Melting point, ICSC cardValue printed on an International Chemical Safety Cardform powder or solid, as printed on the card—
2Melting point, HSDB record in PubChem—basis PubChem experimental property, cited to the Hazardous Substances Data BankA second database value. The ICSC card gives 690 °C, so the two sources differ by 9 °C.
3Decomposition temperatureValue in PubChem experimental properties, cited to the Hazardous Substances Data Bankatmosphere not stated in the record—
4Relative density, water = 1Value printed on an International Chemical Safety Cardbasis relative density to water, as printed; the card gives no temperatureThe card prints a relative density, not a density in g/cm3. PubChem gives 3.35 at 25 °C without a unit, and that value was not used.
5Solubility in waterValue printed on an International Chemical Safety Cardtemperature not stated on the cardPubChem's HSDB entry gives 0.07 g/100 g water at 25 °C, a much lower figure. The two sources disagree.
6TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 30 minResistance against temperature measured on resistive thermometers; TCR from the paper's equationfilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in O2 for 30 mintemperature about 298 K—
7TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 40 minResistance against temperature measured on resistive thermometers; TCR from the paper's equationfilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in O2 for 40 mintemperature about 298 K—
8TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 30 minResistance against temperature measured on resistive thermometers; TCR from the paper's equationfilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in N2 for 30 mintemperature about 298 K—
9TCR, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 40 minResistance against temperature measured on resistive thermometers; TCR from the paper's equationfilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in N2 for 40 mintemperature about 298 K—
10Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 30 minResistivity printed by the paper at room temperaturefilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in O2 for 30 mintemperature about 298 K—
11Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, O2 anneal 40 minResistivity printed by the paper at room temperaturefilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in O2 for 40 mintemperature about 298 K—
12Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 30 minResistivity printed by the paper at room temperaturefilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in N2 for 30 mintemperature about 298 K—
13Resistivity, sputtered V2O5/V multilayer film, N2 anneal 40 minResistivity printed by the paper at room temperaturefilm V2O5 and V 5 nm layers, 105 nm total, sputtered and annealed (a mixed VOx film, not bulk V2O5)anneal 300 °C (573 K) in N2 for 40 mintemperature about 298 K—

Corrosion and compatibility

What happens when it meets other materials and environments.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat happens
Molten sodium sulfate and V2O5 salt at 700 to 800 °C (hot corrosion of a nickel alloy) not rated V2O5 with sodium sulfate forms a molten salt that attacks nickel alloys at high temperature.1
Aqueous acids and alkalis not rated V2O5 dissolves in concentrated acids and alkalis, and forms vanadates in alkali.2
Heating above about 700 °C (oxygen loss) not rated V2O5 loses oxygen on heating, and decomposes at 1750 °C to give irritating vanadium oxide fumes.3
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest conditions
1 Molten sodium sulfate and V2O5 salt at 700 to 800 °C (hot corrosion of a nickel alloy) In a crucible test with about 20% Na2SO4 and 80% V2O5, Inconel 625 corroded more the longer it was exposed. After 24 h, CrVO4 and Ni3V2O8 formed on the surface, and sulfur entered the alloy to form internal sulfides that sped up intergranular attack. The paper gives no corrosion-rate scale, so no rating is assigned here. temperature 700, 750 and 800 °Cexposure 24 to 120 h, weight-loss methodsalt about 20% Na2SO4 and 80% V2O5 (section 2.2)
2 Aqueous acids and alkalis PubChem's HSDB-based summary says V2O5 is soluble in concentrated acids and alkalies and insoluble in alcohol, and that it forms vanadates in alkalis. The ICSC card gives a water solubility of 0.8 g/100 ml. form powdertemperature not stated
3 Heating above about 700 °C (oxygen loss) The PubChem record says V2O5 loses oxygen reversibly between 700 and 1125 °C. When heated to decomposition it gives acrid smoke and irritating fumes of vanadium oxides. No ageing or reduction rate was found in a source read here. temperature 700 to 1125 °C for the reversible oxygen loss; decomposition at 1750 °C

Risks and side effects

Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.

For people

The EU harmonised classification in PubChem carries the Danger signal word. The ICSC card sets an exposure limit of 0.05 mg/m3 as V.

Inhaled
Fatal if inhaled (H330), and may cause respiratory irritation (H335). The ICSC card calls the aerosol irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Swallowed
Toxic if swallowed (H301). PubChem gives a probable oral lethal dose for humans of 5 to 50 mg/kg.
Long term
Suspected of causing genetic defects (H341), may cause cancer (H350), and causes organ damage through repeated exposure (H372).
In a fire
Heating gives acrid smoke and irritating fumes of vanadium oxides. The ICSC card says toxic fumes form on heating.

Handling and storage

Dust
Prevent the dust from spreading. Use ventilation or breathing protection, and gloves and goggles.
Storage
Store away from food and feedstuffs.
Spills
Moisten the powder first to stop it dusting, then sweep it into covered containers.

If heated or in a melt

These effects come from laboratory and industrial data, not from incidents.

Molten salt
With sodium sulfate at 700 to 800 °C, the melt attacks Inconel 625. Corrosion rose with time, and sulfur formed internal sulfides in the alloy.
Film anneal
In lab films, changing the N2 anneal from 30 to 40 min moved the TCR from -3.18 to -1.1181 %/K.

Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.

Failure risks

Failure risks
FailureTrigger and consequence
Vanadate attack on a nickel alloy at high temperaturehigh severitySodium sulfate and V2O5 deposits from high-sulfur, high-vanadium fuel at 700 to 800 °C, in the crucible testCorrosion of Inconel 625 rose with time and temperature. Sulfur entered the alloy and formed internal sulfides that sped up intergranular attack.
Film resistivity and TCR shift with the annealmoderate severityChanging the anneal atmosphere (O2 or N2) or time (30 or 40 min) of a sputtered V2O5/V multilayerThe TCR moved from -3.0036 to -2.4964 %/K in O2 and from -3.18 to -1.1181 %/K in N2. Resistivity in N2 fell from 0.04718 to 0.002527 Ω·cm.

Side effects on surrounding parts

Side effects on surrounding parts
AffectsEffect
People and equipment near a fire or a hot processWhen heated to decomposition, V2O5 gives acrid smoke and irritating fumes of vanadium oxides, and the record notes that it may increase the intensity of a fire when in contact with combustible materials.

Handling and storage

  • Prevent dispersion of dust. Use ventilation, local exhaust or breathing protection, gloves, and safety goggles, and do not eat, drink or smoke at work.
  • Store separated from food and feedstuffs, and do not transport with food.
  • For spills, moisten the powder first to prevent dusting, sweep it into covered containers, and do not let the chemical enter the environment.

Mitigations

  • Keep airborne vanadium below the ICSC TLV of 0.05 mg/m3 (as V, inhalable fraction, TWA).
  • Use a particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration when clearing a spill, as the ICSC card advises.

Supply and geography

How common the raw materials are and where they come from.

Vanadium (feedstock for V2O5 and vanadium alloys)

Top producers (2024)
China 71.2%, Russia 17.8%, South Africa 6.8%, Brazil 4.4%
Critical mineral lists
US: listed, EU: listed
Recycling
USGS: recycling of vanadium is mainly reprocessing of vanadium catalysts into new catalysts.
Substitutes
USGS: platinum and nickel can replace vanadium compounds as catalysts in some chemical processes.; USGS: no acceptable substitute for vanadium is available for use in aerospace titanium alloys.

Vanadium pentoxide, U.S. import sources (not world production)

Top producers
Brazil 47%, South Africa 43%, Russia 6%, Other 4%
Recycling
USGS: vanadium pentoxide is recovered from processed waste materials such as petroleum residues, spent catalysts and utility ash in the United States.