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A Ni-Ga catalyst that reduces CO₂ to methanol at ambient pressure has been discovered through a descriptor-based computational analysis, and has been shown experimentally to be particularly active and selective. This represents a first step towards the development of small-scale low-pressure processes for CO₂ reduction to methanol from distributed hydrogen production.

The widespread use of fuel cells requires improved catalysts to reduce oxygen efficiently at the cathode. It is shown that model, well-characterized size-selected Pt_xY nanoparticles can be synthesized by the gas aggregation technique, and that they are highly active for this reaction.

The authors present a customized operando synchrotron X-ray platform to track simultaneously ion, water and catalyst evolution in CO₂ electrolysis based on membrane-electrode assembly. Enhanced Au durability is caused by a robust crystal structure and strong adhesion to substrate.

The production of fuels from sunlight is crucial to the development of a sustainable energy system. Although noble metals are efficient catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution, earth-abundant alternatives are needed for large-scale use. Bioinspired molecular clusters based on molybdenum and sulphur are now shown to produce hydrogen at rates comparable to platinum.

Limiting reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels inevitably depends on a more efficient utilization of solar energy. Materials scientists discuss the most viable approaches to produce high-energy-density fuels from sunlight that can be implemented in existing infrastructures.

Use of a chain-ether-based solvent instead of tetrahydrofuran for lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction enables long-term continuous ammonia electrosynthesis with high efficiency and improved gas-phase ammonia distribution.

The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during lithium-mediated ammonia synthesis. Here, the authors establish the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles.

Metal-mediated (for example, lithium) electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from N₂ is a promising method to electrify the production of this crucial molecule. Here the authors discuss what is needed to make this a viable and sustainable approach.

The electrochemical reduction of CO for sustainable fuel production has gained attention, but the reaction mechanism needs further clarification. Here the authors delve into the discussion regarding whether the rate-determining step for the generation of multi-carbon products is the C-C coupling or the hydrogenation of CO, and provide evidence for dimerization of two *CO as the pivotal step in this process.

CO electroreduction is a promising process for obtaining high-value chemicals but it typically suffers from low durability. Now the degradation mechanisms of membrane-electrode-assembly devices during high-rate CO reduction are identified via operando wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements and circumvented.

The production of ammonia via the Haber–Bosch process is carbon-intensive and centralized, but electrochemical methods such as lithium-mediated processes in organic electrolytes could enable decentralized production using renewable energy. Calcium is now shown to mediate nitrogen reduction for ammonia synthesis.

Catalytic ammonia synthesis continues to attract significant interest. Here, the authors develop a model to explain a large body of recent experimental data on new promoters. They find new promotion mechanism mediated by coupling between adsorption and spin polarization on the surface atoms of magnetic catalysts.

Low-cost, high-performance oxygen evolution catalysts would facilitate implementation of water electrolysers for hydrogen production. Here the authors report a low-iridium mass-selected iridium–tantalum oxide catalyst with high intrinsic activity in acid and carefully evaluate oxygen production to account for parasitic reactions.

The electrochemical reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide requires selective and stable electrocatalysts. It is now shown that Pt–Hg nanoparticles display an order of magnitude improvement in the mass activity for hydrogen peroxide production compared with the best performing catalyst.

Understanding the nature of active sites is central to controlling the activity of a given catalyst. This work combines operando characterization and computational techniques to examine the oxygen evolution reaction mechanism on RuO₂ surfaces.

A wealth of candidates are being investigated to improve the catalysts found in acidic and alkaline electrolysers. However, attention should be focused on developing stable water oxidation catalysts with improved intrinsic activity — not only increased geometric activity — alongside best practice for data collection.

A protocol for the electrochemical reduction of nitrogen to ammonia enables isotope-sensitive quantification of the ammonia produced and the identification and removal of contaminants.

This Primer highlights the range of new strategies for sustainable N₂ activation and the step by step protocol necessary for evaluating genuine activity. The required metrics and how to interpret data alongside the best practices to improve reproducibility and enable the development of practical technologies are discussed.