A deposited cobalt composition is described, including cobalt and one or more alloy component that is effective in combination with cobalt to enhance adhesion to a substrate when exposed on the substrate to variable temperature and/or delaminative force conditions, as compared to corresponding elemental cobalt, wherein the one or more alloy component is selected from the group consisting of boron, phosphorous, tin, antimony, indium, and gold. Such deposited cobalt composition may be employed for metallization in semiconductor devices and device precursor structures, flat-panel displays, and solar panels, and provides highly adherent metallization when the metallized substrate is subjected to thermal cycling and/or chemical mechanical planarization operations in the manufacturing of the semiconductor, flat-panel display, or solar panel product.