Used as a corrosion inhibitor in industrial water treatment systems, particularly for protecting metal surfaces like steel and copper in cooling circuits. Forms stable complexes with metal ions, preventing scale formation and enhancing the efficiency of water treatment formulations. Serves as a building block in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) due to its chelating properties, enabling applications in gas storage, separation, catalysis, and carbon dioxide capture for reducing industrial emissions. Employed in surface modification of metal oxides, ceramics, and metals to create functional coatings that improve corrosion resistance and thin film adhesion. Phosphonic groups enable strong binding to inorganic surfaces, supporting uses in microelectronics, chemical sensors sensitive to metal ion changes, and biomedical materials for controlled ion release.