Nature Catalysis, Published online: 25 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41929-026-01550-7 Metal leaching is usually regarded as a loss mechanism in heterogeneous catalysis. Now, Hutchings, McIntosh, and colleagues show that physically separated Au/C and Pd/C catalysts can be electrochemically coupled during alcohol oxidation to alter the operating potential of Pd, suppressing dissolution at moderate alkalinity. Under stronger basic conditions, leached Pd instead participates in a liquid–solid redox cycle