Methods for nitrogen activation by reduction and oxidation

The industrial Haber–Bosch process to produce ammonia (NH3) from dinitrogen (N2) is crucial for modern society. However, N2 activation inherently challenging and the has significant drawbacks, as it highly energy intensive, not sustainable owing substantial CO2 emissions primarily generation of H2 requires large, centralized facilities. New strategies activation, such low-temperature thermochemical catalysis (photo)electrocatalysis, have been pursued, but progress hindered by lack rigour reproducibility in collection analysis results. In this Primer, we provide a holistic step protocol, applicable all nitrogen-transformation reactions, focused on verifying genuine accounting contamination sources. We compare state-of-the-art results different catalytic reactions following protocol’s framework, discuss necessary reporting metrics ways interpret both experimental density functional theory This Primer covers various common pitfalls field, best practices improve cost-efficient methods carry out rigorous experimentation. future nitrogen will require an increase experimentation standardization prevent false positives appearing literature, which can enable advancing towards practical technologies N2. highlights range new protocol evaluating activity. required how data alongside development are discussed.