Degree: Doctor

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Affiliation(s):

Faculty of Science, University of Porto

Bio
José C. S. Costa completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2015 at the University of Porto, Faculty of Science. Currently, he holds the position of Auxiliary Researcher (permanent contract) in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the Faculty of Science, University of Porto. Costa is an integrated member of the IMS-Institute of Molecular Sciences & CIQUP - "Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade do Porto." His primary areas of scientific activity include physical chemistry and materials chemistry. His current research interests encompass fundamental and functional studies on thin films fabricated through vapor deposition approaches, organic and inorganic semiconductors, optoelectronic devices, hybrid perovskites, and ionic liquids. 
Costa has been actively contributing to the advancement of knowledge in thin films and advanced materials at his institution. Since the inception of his research activities, Costa has published 42 papers in international peer-reviewed journals (with an h-index of 15), 2 papers in national peer-reviewed journals, and served as the editor of 1 scientific book and 2 journal issues. Out of a total of 42 international publications, 32 were released as the first and/or corresponding author. Almost all publications belong to quartile Q1 of the journal citation ranking. Additionally, Costa holds 1 registered patent. He has actively participated in several national and international academic conferences, seminars, and scientific meetings. Costa is the author/co-author of ~40 oral communications and ~40 poster communications, three of which received the best poster award. He has contributed to 14 R&D projects, organized ~10 scientific/academic events, and actively participated in approximately 50 others. Costa has supervised 2 Ph.D. dissertations, 8 MSc dissertations, 11 works of course completion of LSc/BSc, and 17 scientific projects for young researchers (extracurricular internships). He has received ~10 awards and/or honors. 
Most of his work has been carried out in the areas of Exact Sciences with an emphasis on Chemical and Physical Sciences. In his professional activities, he has interacted with ~100 collaborators, co-authoring scientific papers with them. In his CIÊNCIAVITAE curriculum, the most frequently recurring terms related to his scientific, technological, and artistic-cultural contributions include Organic Semiconductors, Physical Vapor Deposition, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Thin Films, Ionic Liquids, Perovskites, and Thermodynamics.


Areas of Interest

  1. Physical sciences > Chemistry > Physical chemistry
  2. Physical sciences > Chemistry > Physical chemistry > Surface chemistry
  3. Physical sciences > Physics > Condensed matter properties
  4. Technological sciences > Technology > Nanotechnology > Nanodevices
  5. Technological sciences > Technology > Nanotechnology > Nanosystems


CIQUP  |  Centro de Investigação em Química da Universidade do Porto
IMS |  Institute of Molecular Sciences

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7134-8675

CIENCIA ID: https://www.cienciavitae.pt//D712-8242-7BD2

Projects
This CIQUP member does not yet have any projects linked with him.
Publications
Showing 5 latest publications. Total publications: 42
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1. Giant Growth of Crystalline Films of 1,3,5-Tris(N-carbazolyl)benzene (TCB) and 1,3,5-Tris(diphenylamino)benzene (TDAB) on Engineered Shapes of Ionic Liquid in Vacuum, Farinha, AFM; Oliveira, GNP; Araújo, JP; Santos, LMNBF Costa, JCS in CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN, 2025, ISSN: 1528-7483,  Volume: 25, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.4c01355 P-017-Z34
Abstract This study demonstrates the efficacy of ionic liquid (IL)-assisted vapor deposition in achieving high-quality and distinctive crystal film growth of two organic semiconductors (OSCs): a carbazole derivative (TCB) and a phenylamine derivative (TDAB). ILs with different wetting properties (short-chain [C2C1im][NTf2] and long-chain [C8C1im][NTf2]) and engineered shapes (microdroplets and coalesced film) were utilized as solvents in a vacuum. Through a meticulously designed experimental strategy, encompassing both sequential and simultaneous deposition of the IL and the OSC, this study unveils the pivotal role of ILs in shaping the crystallization behavior of the organic compound. Differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were employed for the films' thermal, morphological, and structural characterization. Thin films of TDAB exhibit crystallinity and a greater tendency to grow tridimensionally, forming giant pillars. However, the typical vertical growth of TDAB on solid substrates is altered when deposition occurs on surfaces coated with ILs. The IL promotes the lateral growth of nanostructures. The experimental results reveal variations in film morphology and coverage influenced by the cation alkyl chain length of the IL. In contrast to TDAB, TCB films are amorphous when thermally evaporated on solid substrates. Notably, IL-assisted vapor deposition induces the crystallization of TCB. Furthermore, TCB films deposited on coalesced IL films exhibit enhanced crystallinity and homogeneous horizontal growth, representing a significant finding in the context of thin film deposition and semiconductor device fabrication.
2. Tailoring Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Films of Ionic Liquid Mixtures, Silva, SRMR; Carvalho, RM; Bondarchuk, O; Oliveira, GNP; Araújo, JP; Bastos, M Santos, LMNBF Costa, JCS in LANGMUIR, 2025, ISSN: 0743-7463,  Volume: 41, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00653 P-018-FZJ
Abstract Extensive research has focused on films formed by pure ionic liquids (ILs). However, growing interest in IL mixtures and their synergistic properties presents new opportunities for targeted applications and fundamental scientific investigations. This study explores the morphology of films composed of mixtures of two ILs, [C2C1im][OTf] and [C8C1im][OTf], co-deposited via physical vapor deposition (PVD)/vacuum thermal evaporation. The primary objective was understanding how varying the IL ratio influences droplet formation, surface coverage, and overall film structure. Thin-film growth was examined on glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO) and ITO/glass surfaces coated with metallic films (Au and Ag). Film morphology was characterized using optical and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while elemental composition was analyzed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results show that IL mixture morphology is strongly influenced by both IL composition and substrate type. Increasing [C8C1im][OTf] content led to larger microstructures due to improved wetting, particularly on Au surfaces, resulting in nearly fully coalesced films. Metallic surfaces near ITO significantly impacted droplet behavior, with ILs exhibiting a strong affinity for metals, especially when the long-chain IL dominated the mixture. The IL-assisted crystallization of rubrene, a high-performance organic semiconductor (OSC) that typically exhibits poor crystallinity when deposited via PVD, highlights the potential of IL mixtures to enhance organic film quality. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that [C2C1im][OTf] and [C8C1im][OTf] mixtures significantly improved rubrene crystallinity, demonstrating their potential to create an optimal environment for OSC solubility and crystallization.
3. Carbon-Induced Changes in the Morphology and Wetting Behavior of Ionic Liquids on the Mesoscale, Carvalho, RM; Santos, LMNBF Bastos, M Costa, JCS in LANGMUIR, 2024, ISSN: 0743-7463,  Volume: 40, 
Article,  Indexed in: wos, crossref, scopus, unpaywall  DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00102 P-010-3Q5
Abstract Thin films of ionic liquids (ILs) have gained significant attention due to their unique properties and broad applications. Extensive research has focused on studying the influence of ILs' chemical composition and substrate characteristics on the structure and morphology of IL films at the nano- and mesoscopic scales. This study explores the impact of carbon-coated surfaces on the morphology and wetting behavior of a series of alkylimidazolium-based ILs. Specifically, this work investigates the effect of carbon coating on the morphology and wetting behavior of short-chain ([C(2)C(1)im][NTf2] and [C(2)C(1)im][OTf]) and long-chain ([C(8)C(1)im][NTf2] and [C(8)C(1)im][OTf]) ILs deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO), silver (Ag), and gold (Au) substrates. A reproducible vapor deposition methodology was utilized for the deposition process. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the morphological and structural characteristics of the substrates and obtained IL films. The experimental data revealed that the IL films deposited on carbon-coated Au substrates showed minor changes in their morphology compared to that of the films deposited on clean Au surfaces. However, the presence of carbon coatings on the ITO and Ag surfaces led to significant morphological alterations in the IL films. Specifically, for short-chain ILs, the carbon film surface induced 2D growth of the IL film, followed by subsequent island growth. In contrast, for long-chain ILs deposited on carbon surfaces, layer-by-layer growth occurred without island formation, resulting in highly uniform and coalesced IL films. The extent of morphological changes observed in the IL films was found to be influenced by two crucial factors: the thickness of the carbon film on the substrate surface and the amount of IL deposition.
4. The Cohesive Interactions in Phenylimidazoles, Costa, JCS Ferreira, AIMCL; Lima, CFRAC Santos, LMNBF in JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A, 2024, ISSN: 1089-5639,  Volume: 128, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos  DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.4c01589 P-010-GC5
Abstract This work presents a comprehensive study exploring the thermodynamics of the solid phase of a series of phenylimidazoles, encompassing experimental measurements of heat capacity, volatility, and thermal behavior. The influence of successive phenyl group insertions on the imidazole ring on thermodynamic properties and supramolecular behavior was thoroughly examined through the evaluation of 2-phenylimidazole (2-PhI), 4-phenylimidazole (4-PhI), 4,5-diphenylimidazole (4,5-DPhI), and 2,4,5-triphenylimidazole (2,4,5-TPhI). Structural correlations between molecular structure and thermodynamic properties were established. Furthermore, the investigation employed UV-vis spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. Additive effects arising from the introduction of phenyl groups were found through the analysis of the solid-liquid and solid-gas equilibria, as well as heat capacities. A good correlation emerged between the thermodynamic properties of sublimation and the molar volume of the unit cell, evident across 2-PhI, 4,5-DPhI, and 2,4,5-TPhI. In contrast to its isomer 2-PhI, 4-PhI exhibited greater cohesive energy due to the stronger N-HN intermolecular interactions, leading to the disruption of coplanar geometry in the 4-PhI molecules. The observed higher entropies of phase transition (fusion and sublimation) are consistent with the higher structural order observed in the crystalline lattice of 4-PhI.
5. The effect of ionic liquids on the nucleation and growth of perylene films obtained by vapor deposition, Costa, JCS Campos, RM; Castro, ACM; Farinha, AFM; Oliveira, GNP; Araújo, JP; Santos, LMNBF in CRYSTENGCOMM, 2023, ISSN: 1466-8033,  Volume: 25, 
Article,  Indexed in: crossref, scopus, wos, unpaywall  DOI: 10.1039/d2ce01495e P-00X-REB
Abstract Microdroplets and thin films of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) of different sizes and shapes were used as confining agents for the formation of high-quality perylene crystals by vapor deposition. The role of ILs to control the nucleation and subsequent crystal growth of perylene was investigated by sequential and simultaneous depositions of both materials using indium tin oxide (ITO) as the underlying substrate. The deposition of ILs onto the perylene film surface led to the formation of a complete 2D wetting layer, followed by island growth. Higher adhesion and affinity were found for longer-chain ILs. Inverting the deposition order, the perylene microcrystals were found to grow via the ILs droplets. Additionally, the nucleation and growth of perylene monocrystals enhanced the coalescence mechanisms of the ILs droplets. This wetting process was especially evident for longer-chain ILs. The deposition of perylene onto ITO surfaces fully covered with coalesced ionic liquid films led to the formation of a perylene film with the highest homogeneity as the result of a decrease in surface mobility. The co-deposition of perylene and ILs emphasized the potential application of ILs as crystallization solvents for the formation of thin organic films with improved crystalline quality without compromising the optoelectronic properties.