From nitric oxide to ammonia: Unpacking the potential of electrochemistry

The successful implementation of an electrocatalytic reverse artificial nitrogen cycle requires a highly effective catalyst to reach its ground-breaking potential. In their recent Nature Energy article,¹ Shao et al. showcased a catalyst design strategy of high precision, integrating density functional theory calculations with experimentation—resulting in a high-performance Cu₆Sn₅ catalyst, a foundational leap in enhancing nitric oxide-ammonia production rates.