Nitrogen is the atmosphere’s most abundant chemical, making up around 78% of air. The current method of utilizing atmospheric N₂ relies on the Haber-Bosch Process, which converts N₂ to ammonia using high pressure and heat with an iron catalyst. This process is energy intensive and is responsible for ~2% of global energy consumption. NH₃ electrosynthesis is a promising alternative due to its low energy consumption and near ambient conditions.

Water-soluble synthetic polymers (WSPs), including polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene glycol, are widely used in consumer and industrial applications such as detergents, cosmetics, and textile processing. Global demand for WSPs is increasing by over 5.4% annually and is expected to reach 12.8 million metric tons within the next decade. After their use, millions of tons of WSPs dissolve and enter environmental systems each year; however, their environmental fate and potential long-term impacts remain poorly understood.