Stability is a key property for any catalyst. The description of stability, however, varies in the literature depending on the subfield. In this Review the authors present a systematic literature analysis aimed at identifying generalized deactivation modes and their prevalence in different areas of catalysis to offer a comprehensive descriptive framework of catalyst deactivation.

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide formation is an advancing field with various approaches motivated by the promise of a green oxidant and energy carrier for a sustainable future. An assessment on quantification methods, sacrificial agents and best practices is provided to avoid false positives and support progress in the field.

Paola Laurino and Moni Hamolsky talk to Nature Catalysis about the Rosalind Franklin Forum for Female Scientists, Open to All (Roz), recalling the forum’s origins and aspirations.

Progress in the field of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction has been constrained by a lack of comparability between studies. This Perspective provides recommendations for best practices in the undertaking and reporting of experimental data in this promising research area.

Upgrading methane to more valuable chemicals such as methanol is highly appealing but remains challenging. Here the authors show how edge-rich MoS₂ can be used to oxidize methane to C1 oxygenates at room temperature using oxygen as the oxidant.

CO₂ conversion to valuable chemicals is of great interest in sustainable chemistry. Now, β-amino acids are synthesized by a dual catalytic strategy that enables the aminocarboxylation of alkenes using CO₂, proceeding via alkene radical anion intermediates that are generated using a designed binaphthol-derived photoredox catalyst.

The electrochemical synthesis of hydrazine is a very attractive yet challenging process. Now, the direct electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to hydrazine on a Ru complex catalyst, involving a bimolecular N‒N coupling mechanism, is reported.

Non-natural photobiocatalysis is attractive but usually involves UV light activation or the formation of electron donor–acceptor complexes. Now direct visible-light excitation of flavin-dependent ene-reductases allows stereocontrolled intermolecular radical hydroarylation of alkenes initiated by single-electron oxidation.

Producing valuable chemicals from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight through artificial conversion schemes remains a challenging and ambitious goal in photocatalysis. Here, the authors introduce an effective approach for the synthesis of C₂₊ compounds using a binary AuIr catalyst in combination with InGaN nanowires.

Urea electrosynthesis from nitrate and CO₂ is an attractive strategy to diminish pollutants and reduce emissions, but yields are generally low. Now, this process is performed on a Zn/Cu hybrid catalyst achieving high Faradaic efficiency for urea of 75% via a relay catalysis mechanism.