Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) is a chemical compound of vanadium and oxygen, not vanadium metal or ferrovanadium. It is an important intermediate in vanadium supply chains, used in producing steel-related vanadium products and in chemical catalysts, as well as in ceramics, glass, pigments, and some grid-scale batteries. Its market is closely linked to steel demand, especially in China, while battery use faces cost and feedstock constraints.
What is vanadium pentoxide?
Vanadium pentoxide has the chemical formula V₂O₅ and CAS Registry Number 1314-62-1. It is one of several compounds formed by vanadium, an element that occurs in multiple oxidation states. V₂O₅ is therefore not a synonym for vanadium in general, vanadium metal, vanadium-bearing slag, or ferrovanadium.
The distinction matters in commerce. V₂O₅ can be an upstream product that is further processed into other vanadium products; ferrovanadium is a separate alloy and market product used to add vanadium to steel. Prices for the two materials cannot be compared as if they were the same grade or product.
What are the properties of V₂O₅?
OSHA lists a molecular weight of 181.9, a specific gravity of 3.36, a melting point of 1,274°F, and a boiling point of 3,182°F with decomposition. Its workplace description distinguishes the bulk material from airborne material: it is a yellow-orange powder or dark-gray, odorless flakes when dispersed in air. These figures and descriptions come from OSHA’s chemical data entry, last updated June 14, 2023: OSHA chemical data for vanadium pentoxide.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- We are providing 10 grams net weight Vanadium Dioxide powder;
- VO2 Purity higher than 99.9%;
- Formula: VO2, CAS number: 12036-21-4;
- The VO2 is known for its ability to undergo a reversible phase change from an insulator to a metal, making it useful in electronic and optical switches;
- This material is widely used in thermochromic coatings technology, battery cathodes production, catalyst in lab science experiments, nanotechnology, electrochromic devices and thermostats production areas etc.
Vanadium also occurs naturally in oxidation states +2, +3, +4, and +5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). That variety helps explain why the element has multiple oxide forms and why the name vanadium pentoxide refers to a specific compound rather than all vanadium substances. See the USGS overview, Vanadium: A review of its geology and geochemistry (2017).
What is vanadium pentoxide used for?
Steel-related vanadium products
Vanadium is used primarily in steel alloys. V₂O₅ may enter this supply chain as a material for further processing, but the vanadium added to steel is not necessarily V₂O₅ itself. Ferrovanadium is a distinct product, and USGS market statistics report separate prices for pentoxide and ferrovanadium.
Rank #2
- We are providing 5 grams net weight Vanadium Dioxide powder;
- VO2 Purity higher than 99.9%;
- Formula: VO2, CAS number: 12036-21-4;
- The VO2 is known for its ability to undergo a reversible phase change from an insulator to a metal, making it useful in electronic and optical switches;
- This material is widely used in thermochromic coatings technology, battery cathodes production, catalyst in lab science experiments, nanotechnology, electrochromic devices and thermostats production areas etc.
Chemical catalysts and other materials
Vanadium is also used as a catalyst in the chemical industry and in making ceramics, glass, and pigments. These applications use vanadium in different forms and supply chains; they should not be read as evidence that every application consumes V₂O₅ directly.
Vanadium redox-flow batteries
Vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRFBs) are used for large-scale electricity storage. USGS describes operational safety, long cycle life, and suitability for medium- to long-duration storage as advantages. It also identifies high capital costs, limited high-purity vanadium feedstock, and competition from other battery chemistries as constraints. The vanadium electrolyte in a finished battery is not interchangeable with a bag of V₂O₅; the oxide is, at most, part of an upstream materials chain.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #3
- We are providing 10 grams net weight pure Vanadium metal powder. Approx 0.352 oz. Purity:V >=99.5%;
- This item will be vacuum packed in order to maintain original appearance and avoid oxidation;
- It's great for laboratory science experiments or research purpose using;
- It also can be a great gift for periodic table element specimen collectors.
- Vanadium is commonly used in Vanadium steel alloys producing, battery technology, catalysts, nanoscale applications, pigment application, protection against corrosion in pipeline and bridge constructions areas etc.
The USGS’s 2017 overview summarizes these uses: “Vanadium is used primarily in the production of steel alloys; as a catalyst for the chemical industry; in the making of ceramics, glasses, and pigments; and in vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRBs) for large-scale storage of electricity.” The authors are Karen D. Kelley, Clint Scott, Desiree E. Polyak, and Bryn E. Kimball.
How does the vanadium market look?
The latest figures here are annual estimates in the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, published in February 2026, and cover 2025. They are not live market quotes.
Rank #4
- We are providing 50 grams net weight Vanadium Dioxide powder;
- VO2 Purity higher than 99.9%;
- Formula: VO2, CAS number: 12036-21-4;
- The VO2 is known for its ability to undergo a reversible phase change from an insulator to a metal, making it useful in electronic and optical switches;
- This material is widely used in thermochromic coatings technology, battery cathodes production, catalyst in lab science experiments, nanotechnology, electrochromic devices and thermostats production areas etc.
| Measure | Reported figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese V₂O₅ price | $5.02 per pound in 2025; $5.44 per pound in 2024 | USGS estimated average price for Chinese vanadium pentoxide at 98% V₂O₅ content. |
| U.S. ferrovanadium price | $14.14 per pound in 2025; $13.05 per pound in 2024 | USGS estimated U.S. price for ferrovanadium containing 78% to 82% vanadium. This is not a V₂O₅ price. |
| World mine production | 110,000 metric tons in 2025 | USGS rounded estimate of vanadium mine production worldwide. |
| China mine production | 82,000 metric tons in 2025 | USGS estimate; China remained the top producer in the report’s country table. |
| World vanadium resources | More than 63 million tons | USGS-reported resources, not a claim about economically recoverable reserves. |
USGS notes that vanadium depends heavily on steel-market characteristics, especially conditions in China’s steel sector. It also says China’s 2024 production figure was significantly revised based on a government report, so simple year-over-year production comparisons should be treated with care. The table’s different price lines also reflect different products, content specifications, and geographies; they do not establish a direct price spread between equivalent materials.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where does vanadium supply come from?
The USGS overview describes several geological and industrial routes that contribute to vanadium supply: vanadiferous titanomagnetite, sandstone-hosted deposits, vanadium-rich black shales, and recovery as a byproduct of petroleum refining. These are sources or recovery routes for vanadium, not a guarantee that each produces saleable V₂O₅ directly. Output depends on the source material and processing route.
Best Value
- We are providing 50 grams net weight pure Vanadium metal powder. Approx 1.76 oz. Purity:V >=99.5%;
- This item will be vacuum packed in order to maintain original appearance and avoid oxidation;
- It's great for laboratory science experiments or research purpose using;
- It also can be a great gift for periodic table element specimen collectors.
- Vanadium is commonly used in Vanadium steel alloys producing, battery technology, catalysts, nanoscale applications, pigment application, protection against corrosion in pipeline and bridge constructions areas etc.
What should workers know about V₂O₅ exposure?
OSHA’s chemical data page treats vanadium pentoxide dust and fume as occupational exposure concerns. It lists an OSHA ceiling of 0.1 mg/m³ for fume and 0.5 mg/m³ for respirable dust, and a NIOSH ceiling recommendation of 0.05 mg/m³ for 15 minutes. These are workplace exposure values, not consumer safety thresholds. Workers should consult the applicable current standards, the material’s safety data sheet, and an industrial hygiene professional for the specific job and exposure conditions.
EPA’s IRIS page for vanadium pentoxide contains a legacy oral reference dose entry last updated June 30, 1988. It says an inhalation reference concentration was not assessed under IRIS and that the cancer information reviewed did not yield an estimated value on that page; it also lists a 2012 external-review draft toxicological review. Those entries do not amount to a fresh, comprehensive determination. See EPA IRIS: Vanadium Pentoxide.
The 2017 USGS overview discusses a postulated human micronutrient requirement for vanadium of less than 10 micrograms per day and notes that dietary intake can meet it. That older dietary context should not be used to infer that V₂O₅ is suitable for supplementation or that handling the compound is safe.
Quick Recap
What the market figures do—and do not—tell you
- Identify the product first. A price for V₂O₅ at 98% content is not a price for ferrovanadium at 78% to 82% vanadium content.
- Keep geography and year attached. Chinese pentoxide pricing and U.S. ferrovanadium pricing are separate reported measures, and the 2025 estimates are not current spot quotations.
- Do not equate resources with reserves. The reported resource total does not mean that all of it is economically recoverable.
- Read battery demand alongside its constraints. Continued VRFB deployments do not remove the capital-cost, high-purity feedstock, or competing-chemistry challenges identified by USGS.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
