Cobalt adipate tetrahydrate single crystals were grown by the single gel diffusion technique. The well-faceted, red-colored crystals were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the structure of the crystal is monoclinic with space group P2(1)/n. The Fourier-transform infrared and micro-Raman spectroscopy studies confirmed the presence of water molecules, different functional groups and metal-oxygen bonding in the crystal. Thermal stability and decomposition behavior of the crystal were analyzed by thermo-gravimetric, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.