clara argentino

Research Project

 

Investigating Material Parameters that Promote Chemisorption of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes on Metal Surfaces
Bonds between organic compounds and metals are required in numerous applications, yet they come with their challenges. Traditional linkers such as phosphines and thiols suffer from instability and dissociation under harsh conditions. N-Heterocyclic Carbenes (NHCs) have gained wide interest due to their high metal-carbon bond strength, stability, and shelf-life. They can be used to protect surfaces, act as a molecular anchor, and more. However, there is a knowledge gap when it comes to the NHC binding mechanism. For example, we don’t know why they bind better to some metals than others, or what specific conditions promote binding. My project aims to answer these fundamental questions by studying a series of carefully selected transition metals to study different trends. 
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Email:  clara.argentino@mail.mcgill.ca
Phone: N/A
Office: PP-111

Current Position: Ph.D. Student

Education

B.Sc, Chemical Biology (Honours), McMaster University, Canada, September 2020 – June 2025

Honors/Awards

FRQNT B1, McGill University, 2026
Dean’s Honour List, McMaster University, 2020-2025
First Place Thesis Award (Environmental), McMaster University, 2024
Environmental Category Award, Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry Conference, 2024
Honours Entrance Award, McMaster University, 2020

Publications

Noor, N.; Argentino, C.; Irannezhad, A.; Wuttke, W.; Masouminia, M.; Schouten, A.; Pegrum, K.; LeBreton, M.; Eslami, R.; Angizi, S.; Shakouri, M.; Bagger, A.; Higgins, D. Decoupling the Impact of Electronic Structure and Electrode Wettability of Functionalized Iron Phthalocyanine Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2026, 148 (15), 15859-15872. 

Noor, N.; Nwosu, U.; LeBreton, M.; Schouten, A.; Pegrum, K.; Argentino, C.; Eslami, R.; Irannezhad, A.; Masouminia, M.; Shakouri, M.; Siahrostami, S.; Higgins, D. Elucidating the Impact of the Metal Center Identity and Macrocycle Structure of Molecular Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of Nitrate to Ammonia. ACS Catalysis 2025, 16 (2) 1152-1162. 

CONFERENCES/presentations

ORAL PRESENTATIONS 
C. Argentino, N. Noor, A. Schouten, M. LeBreton, D. Higgins (2024) Understanding the Effect of Electron-Donating and Withdrawing Functional Groups on Molecular Catalysts for Electrochemical NO3R, McMaster University Chemistry Colloquium Day 2024, Hamilton, April 11, 2024. (First Place Winner-Environmental $150)

C. Argentino, N. Noor, A. Schouten, M. LeBreton, D. Higgins (2024) Understanding the Effect of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing functional groups on Phthalocyanine-based Molecular Catalysts in NO3R, 52nd Southern Ontario Undergraduate Student Chemistry, London, April 6, 2024. (Environmental Category Award Winner $100)
 
POSTER PRESENTATIONS 
Argentino C., Zendejas Medina, L., Nezamzadeh, A., Crudden, C., Mauzeroll, J. (2026) Uncovering the Fundamentals of Bonding Between Various Transition Metals to NHCs, Annual Meeting of the Carbon to Metal Coating Institute, Kingston, Ontario, May 20.

Argentino, C., Noor, N., Ruggles, G., Schouten, A., Alnoush, W., Higgins, D. (2023) Tandem Iron and Copper based Molecular Catalysts for Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia, McMaster University Society for Engineering Research Poster Showcase, Hamilton, Aug. 17, 2023.

Argentino, C., Noor, N., Ruggles, G., Schouten, A., Alnoush, W., Higgins, D. (2023) Electrochemical Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia on an Iron Atomically Dispersed Catalyst, Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (CsCHe), Calgary, Oct. 29 – Nov 1, 2023.