Alkali and alkaline earth metals (AMs) play indispensable roles in dinitrogen activation and ammonia synthesis. AM oxides have been used as catalyst promoters for industrial ammonia synthesis, while AM metals are common reducing agents in dinitrogen fixation by organometallic complexes. With the strong push toward green ammonia synthesis, AM is now on a greater platform, playing a more prominent role in mediating dinitrogen reduction via a variety of processes that can be coupled with renewable energy harvest and storage. This perspective discusses the rich chemistry among AM, N₂, H₂, and NH₃; summarizes the classic understandings and new exciting progress in the exploration of AM for both heterogeneous and homogeneous nitrogen fixation; and highlights the multifunctional roles of unconventional and reactive AM-containing materials for future greener ammonia synthesis.

碱金属和碱土金属 (AMs) 在二氮活化和氨合成中起着不可或缺的作用。AM 氧化物已被用作工业氨合成的催化剂促进剂，而 AM 金属是有机金属络合物固定二氮的常见还原剂。随着对绿色氨合成的大力推动，AM 现在处于一个更大的平台上，通过各种可以与可再生能源收集和储存相结合的过程，在介导二氮还原方面发挥更突出的作用。这个观点讨论了 AM、N ₂、H ₂和 NH ₃之间的丰富化学; 总结了非均相和均相固氮 AM 探索中的经典理解和新的令人兴奋的进展；并强调了非常规和反应性含 AM 材料在未来更绿色的氨合成中的多功能作用。