Is oxidation of dinitrogen at measurable rates possible under mild conditions?

Chemical activation of dinitrogen (N₂) gas is well established via reductive pathways in catalytic, electrochemical, and biochemical modes. In contrast, the possibility of N₂ oxidation has only been unambiguously proven under extreme conditions, such as those provided by lightning or plasma discharge. Nevertheless, attempts to oxidize N₂ under mild conditions using electro- and photo-catalysis are being undertaken and regularly reported to produce putatively positive outcomes. The present article aims to (1) critically assess the actual status of the field of N₂ oxidation under close-to-ambient conditions, (2) propose an experimental methodology that substantially decreases the probability of false-positive results, and (3) explore some of the apparently promising approaches to N₂ oxidation at temperatures below 100°C. We conclude that no experiments reported so far, including ours, were able to unambiguously prove the possibility of N₂ oxidation under mild conditions.