The pitfalls in electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction for ammonia synthesis

Ammonia synthesis by electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (EC-NRR) has gained momentum in recent years fueled by its potential to operate at ambient conditions, unlike the highly energy-intensive yet long-standing Haber-Bosch process. However, the large disparity of the yields and Faradic efficiencies reported for EC-NRR raises serious concerns about the reliability of the experimental results. In this perspective, we elaborate on the potential sources of error when assessing EC-NRR and update the testing protocols to circumvent them, and more importantly, we pose a general call for consensus on ammonia production analysis and reporting to lay the solid foundations that this burgeoning field requires to thrive.