Molybdenum carbide is an extremely hard, refractory, ceramic material, commercially used in tool bits for cutting tools.

There are at least three reported phases of molybdenum carbide: γ-MoC, β-Mo2C, and γ'.

The γ phase is structurally identical to tungsten carbide.

[1] β-Mo2C has been suggested as a catalyst for carbon dioxide hydrogenation.

[2] The γ' phase forms by combining the elements at relatively low temperatures, and transforms to the γ phase at 800 °C.