• Scientist C., SCTIMST, Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram
• Teaching: Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetam, Bangalore, Govt. Women’s College, Thiruvananthapuram , NICHE, Thuckalay

Education and Employment

• PDF UMDNJ, Robertwood Johnson Medical School /Rutgers University, New Jersy, USA
• PDF Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
• Ph.D. (Chemistry) NIIST (Regional Research Laboratory, RRL), Thiruvananthapuram.
• M.Sc. (Chemistry) M. S. University, Tirunelveli.
• Joined IIST in February 2009
• February 2009- December 2013: Assistant Professor
• January 2014-December 2020: Associate Professor

• January 2021 onwards: Professor

  Other Roles

• Head of the Department, Chemistry: January 2022-December 2024
• Played a pivotal role in building the Chemistry department Labs of IIST during the initial years, and during the HoD Term, established SEM and XRD Lab in the department and many other equipment.
• Chairperson of the Swachh Bharath Abhiyaan Implementation Committee from January 2024 onwards
• Chairperson of the Cultural Committee of IIST from 2024 onwards
• Life Member
• Society of Polymer Science India (SPSI)
• Materials Research Society of India (Executive Member)

Teaching Interests

• Electrochemistry
• Spectroscopic Methods
• Materials and Methods for Sustainable Energy Conversion
• Materials Characterization Techniques
• Advanced Characterization Techniques
• Nano Science & Technology

Research Areas/Interests:

Synthesis of nanomaterials/structures or select/modify existing 2D materials to nanomaterials for electrochemical (EC) sensing, photocatalysis, and energy storage- supercapacitors and electrodes for battery applications.

EC sensors are attractive because of their remarkable detectability, fast response experimental simplicity, portability, and low cost. Our focus is on the detection and quantification of biomolecules, biomarkers for disease diagnosis, and toxic heavy metal ions (HMIs)/chemicals that pollute water. 

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have the highest energy density among all the secondary battery systems. Nevertheless, current LIB technology is not sufficient to meet the requirements of the future, which demands and requires high-performance/large-scale energy storage, and hence, there is a demand for better electrode materials with higher capacity.

Photocatalysis is a green and sustainable method that makes use of semiconductor materials to photodegrade pollutants in water using sunlight. Our interest has been in Titanium dioxide-based materials and modifying TiO2 for better performance.

Materials science has a vital role to play in the performance of these methods. In our work, we use chemistry and the advantage of nanomaterials to enhance the efficiency of the methods. 

Publications:

1. Dhrishya V., Arya Nair J.S, Arya S. Nair, Elsa Dais, Sandhya K.Y.* Enhanced Electrochemical Detection of Sulfamethoxazole by NaOH-mediated Exfoliated Boron Nitride Nanosheets” Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2025 (I.F.: 6.1)
2. Saisree Sadhasivakurup, Dhrishya Vijayanandan, Achu Chandran, Sandhya Karunakaran Yesodha*      Flexible Printed Biosensor for Selective and Enhanced Sensing of Histidine by a Pyrolysis-free Green Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots; ACS Applied Electronic Materials, September 01, 2025. (I.F.: 4.7). DOI: 10.1021/acsaelm.5c00952. Selected for front cover.
3. S Saisree, V Dhrishya, SN Arya, KY Sandhya* Unraveling the stability and specific electrochemical sensing of lead ions using copper nanoclusters on sulfur and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots Analyst, 2025, 150, 4031-4040. DOI: 10.1039/D5AN00605H.(I.F.: 3.6). Featured in front cover.

4. P Nancy, JSA Nair, S Thomas, KY Sandhya, N Kalarikkal Laser driven exfoliation and in situ engineering of MoS 2/WS 2–Ag nanocomposites for high-performance electrochemical sensing and photonic applications. New J. Chem., 2025, 49, 15023-15037. DOI: 10.1039/D5NJ01475A.(I.F.: 2.7). Featured on front Cover.

5. Saisree, S., Nair, A.S., Dais, E. Sandhya, K.Y., Electrochemical sensors for monitoring water quality: Recent advances in graphene quantum dot-based materials for the detection of toxic heavy metal ions Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) with their mechanistic aspects Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 13(3) 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.116545; Imp. Factor: 7.4

6. Saisree S.,*, Chandradas Shamili, Sandhya K. Y., Surendran Kuzhichalil Peethambharan, Achu Chandran,* Nanomolar level electrochemical detection of glycine on a miniaturized modified screen-printed carbon-based electrode: a comparison of performance with glassy carbon electrode system; Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 12, 37, p7557-63, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TB01133C.  Imp. Factor: 6.1.
7. V. Dhrishya, S. Saisree, V. S. Archana, K. Y. Sandhya; Hybrid Boron Nitride/N-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Specific and Picomolar Electrochemical Detection of Pb(II) Ions, ACS Applied Nano Materials Vol. 8, 3, 2024. Featured on the Cover of journal. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c06475; Imp. Factor: 5.3. 

8. AN JS, KY Sandhya, Nanomolar level electrochemical sensing of explosive material sodium azide by a hexagonal boron nitride modified glassy carbon electrode, Materials Advances 5 (8), 3177-3185, 2024 (Open Access with no fees) (Featured on Journal’s front cover. DOI: 10.1039/D3MA00999H .Imp. Factor: 5.2.
9. Rajaji; Saisree S; K. Y. Sandhya*; Razan A. Alshgari; Ruey-Shin Juang; Ting-Yu Liu, Fabrication of a novel TaB2@V4C3 modified screen-printed carbon electrode for voltammetric determination of pimonidazole in bio-fluids Microchimica Acta, 191, 2, 112, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-024-06182-x; Impact Factor: 5.6.
10. Saisree; S., Archana; Karunakaran Yesodha, Sandhya; Picomolar Selective Electrochemical Sensing of Lead Ions by a Gold−Copper Nanocluster-Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dot Combination,ACS EST&Water, 4, 8, p3145-52, 2024. https://pubs.acs.org/toc/aewcaa/4/8. Featured on the Cover of journal. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.3c00710; Impact Factor: 4.9.
11. Saisree S, Dhrishya V, SK Yesodha, Ultrastable Gold−Copper Nanoclusters on Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for Selective Electrochemical and Fluorescence Sensing of Glycine', ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2023, 6, 11, 9404–9414. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.3c01122; Imp. Factor: 5.3.
12. Saisree S, JS Arya Nair, SK Yesodha, 'Graphene Quantum Dots Doped with Sulfur and Nitrogen as Versatile Electrochemical Sensors for Heavy Metal Ions Cd(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II)'. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 2023, 6, 2, 1224–1234. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c04804 (Imp. Factor: 5.3). 

13. JS Arya Nair, Saisree, S., SK Yesodha, Trace-Level Detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Aided by MoS2 Nanoflowers and Graphene Nanosheet Combination ACS Applied Engineering Materials 1 (3), 924-935.https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaenm.2c00191Imp. Factor: New. 

14. Arya Nair, J.S., Saisree, S. K. Y. Sandhya, Picomolar level electrochemical detection of hydroquinone, catechol and resorcinol simultaneously using a MoS2 nanoflower decorated graphene, Analyst, 2022, 147(13), pp. 2966-2979. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2AN00531J; Imp. Factor: 3.6

15. Fernandez, J., Bindhu, B., K. Y. Sandhya, Prabu, M., Effects of hafnium on the structural, optical and ferroelectric properties of sol-gel synthesized barium titanate ceramics, J of Korean Ceramic Society, 1-12, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-021-00170-0; Imp. Factor: 2.7

16. Fernandez, J., Bindhu, B., K. Y. Sandhya, Prabu, M., Structural and optical analyses of sol-gel synthesized hafnium-doped barium calcium titanate, Bulletin of Materials Science, 45(1), 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-021-02633-w; Imp. Factor: 1.9
17. Saisree, S., Arya J. Nair, K. Y. Sandhya, Variant solvothermal synthesis of N-GQD for colour tuning emissions and naked eye reversible shade tweaking pH sensing ability, Chemical Papers, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-022-02376-w; Imp. Factor: 2.1
18. Arya Nair, J.S., Saisree, S., Aswathi, R., K. Y. Sandhya, Ultra-selective and real-time detection of dopamine using molybdenum disulphide decorated graphene-based electrochemical biosensor. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 354, 131254, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.131254 Imp. Factor: 8.0

19. S Saisree, AN JS, KY Sandhya, A highly stable copper nano cluster on nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots for the simultaneous electrochemical sensing of dopamine, serotonin, and nicotine: a possible addiction scrutinizing strategy, 2022, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 10 (21), 3974-3988; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/D1TB02368C; Imp. Factor: 6.1.

20. Arya Nair, J.S., Saisree, S. K. Y. Sandhya, Ultra‐Rapid Removal of Pb (II) Ions by a Nano‐MoS2 Decorated Graphene Aided by the Unique Combination of Affinity and Electrochemistry. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 6(7), 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202200039; Imp. Factor: 6.5. 

21. Saisree.S, Aswathi.R, Arya Nair J.S, Sandhya K.Y,, Radical Sensitivity and Selectivity in the Electrochemical Sensing of Cadmium Ions in water by a Polyaniline Derived Nitrogen Doped Graphene Quantum Dots, New Journal of Chemistry, RSC, 2021, 45, 1, 110-22.DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ03988H; Imp. Factor: 2.7. 

22. U Rajaji, JSA Nair, SM Chen, KY Sandhya, RA Alshgari, TY Jiang, A disposable electrode modified with metal orthovanadate and sulfur-reduced graphene oxide for electrochemical detection of anti-rheumatic drug, New Journal of Chemistry, 45 (42), 19858-19867, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ02775A; Imp. Factor: 2.7.
23. Chirag, S., J. S. Arya Nair, K. Y. Sandhya*, A Promising Rosy Future For Supercapacitors Suitability of MoS2 Hollow Nanoroses For Supercapacitor Electrodes, International Journal of Materials Research 112 (12), 945-948, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3139/146.111964; Imp. Factor: 0.7.
24. ANJ Salini, A Ramachandran, S Sadasivakurup, SK Yesodha*, Versatile MoS2 hollow nanoroses for a quick-witted removal of Hg (II), Pb (II) and Ag (I) from water and the mechanism: Affinity or Electrochemistry? Applied Materials Today 20, 100642 (2020).
25. MS Gopika, B Bindhu, KY Sandhya, VL Reena, Impact of surface-modified molybdenum disulphide on crystallization, thermal and mechanical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride, Polymer Bulletin (2020) 77 (2), 757-773.
26. A Ramachandran, S Karunakaran Yesodha*  Polyaniline Derived Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for the Ultra Trace Level Electrochemical Detection of Trinitrophenol and the Effective Differentiation of  Trinitrophenol and the Effective Differentiation of Nitroaromatics: Structure Matters ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.(2019), 77, 6732-6743.
27. MM Ali, JSA Nair, K. Y. Sandhya* “Role of reactive oxygen species in the visible light photocatalytic mineralization of rhodamine B dye by P25–carbon dot photocatalyst” Dyes and Pigments (2019), 163, 274-284.
28. JSA Nair, R Aswathi, KY Sandhya*Reverse micelle assisted hydrothermal reaction route for the synthesis of homogenous MoS2 nanospheres, SN Applied Sciences, 2019, 1 (5), 508.
29. R. Aswathi, Sandhya K. Y.* Ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical sensing of Hg(II) ions in normal and sea water using solvent exfoliated MoS2: affinity matters, J. Materials Chemistry A, (2018), 6, 30, 14467-76. Featured in Journal Front Cover.
30. R. Aswathi, Srinivas panda, Sandhya Karunakaran Yesodha* Physiological Level and Selective Electrochemical Sensing of Dopamine by a Solution Processable Graphene and its Enhanced sensing property in general, Sensors & Actuators: B. Chemical (2018), 256, 488-497.
31. A Ramachandran, S Sarojiniamma, P Varatharajan, IS Appusamy, K. Y. Sandhya*, “Nano Graphene Shell for Silicon Nanoparticles: A Novel Strategy for a High Stability Rechargeable Battery Anode” ChemistrySelect (2018) 3 (40), 11190-11199.
32. SMYMMA, KY Sandhya*, A Novel Approach for P25‐Carbon Dot Composite and the Reactive Oxygen Species Involved in the Visible Light Photocatalytic Mineralization of Rhodamine B, ChemistrySelect, (2017), 2, 11840 – 11845.
33. Mohamed Mukthar Ali, K. Y. Sandhya* Selective photodegradation and enhanced photo electrochemical properties of titanium dioxide–graphene composite with exposed (001) facets made by photochemical method Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 2016,144, 748-757.
34. Mohamed Mukthar Ali, K. Y. Sandhya*One-step solvothermal synthesis of carbon doped TiO 2–MoS 2 heterostructure composites with improved visible light catalytic activity, New Journal of Chemistry 2016, 40 (9), 8123-8130.
35. Mohamed Mukthar Ali, K. Y. Sandhya* One step solvothermal synthesis of ultra-fine N-doped TiO 2 with enhanced visible light catalytic properties, RSC Advances 2016, 6 (65), 60522-60529.
36. MA Mohamed, A Shukla, KY Sandhya*, A new green method for the preparation of titanium dioxide‐graphene composite using cyclodextrin as a linker with enhanced photoexcited electron transfer and photocatalytic, Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 2016 35 (5), 1283-1292.
37. Mohamed Mukthar Ali, K. Y. Sandhya* Highly Active TiO2-MoS2 Composite for Visible Light Photocatalytic Applications Materials Science Forum 2015, 830, 553-556.
38. Aswathi R, K. Y. Sandhya* A Simple Method of Synthesis of Graphene Oxide-Silicon Nanoparticle Composite as Potential Anode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries Materials Science Forum 2015, 830, 522-525.
39. Aswathi R, Mohamed Mukthar Ali, Anurudha Shukla, K. Y. Sandhya* A green method to gold-graphene nanocomposite from cyclodextrin functionalized graphene for efficient non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing applications, RSC Advances 2015, 5, 32027-32033.
40. Mohamed Mukthar Ali and K. Y. Sandhya* Reduced graphene oxide as a highly efficient adsorbent for 1-naphthol and the mechanism thereof RSC Advances 2014, 4, 51624-31.
41. Mohamed Mukthar Ali and K. Y. Sandhya* Visible light responsive titanium dioxide-cyclodextrin-fullerene composite with reduced charge recombination and enhanced photocatalytic activity Carbon 2014, 7, 249-257.
42. Sandhya Nair, N.S. Remya, S. Remya and Prabha D. Nair “A biodegradable in situ injectable hydrogel based on chitosan and oxidized hyaluronic acid for tissue engineering applications”, Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume 85, Issue 4, p 838-844, July, 2011.
43. Nair SK, Verma A., Thomas TJ, Chou TC, Gallo MA, Shirahata A, Thomas T. (2007) Synergistic apoptosis of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by 2-methoxyestradiol and bis(ethyl)norspermine. Cancer Letter 250, 311-22.
44. Vijayanathan, V., Venkateswaran, S., Nair S. K., Verma A., Thomas T. J., Zhu B. T., Thomas T. (2006) Physiologic levels of 2-methoxyestradiol interfere with nongenomic signaling of 17beta-estradiol in human breast cancer cells. Clinical Cancer Research 12, 2038-48.
45. Veena Vijayanathan, T. J. Thomas, Sandhya Nair, Akira Shirahata, Michael A. Gallo, and Thresia Thomas, Thomas T. (2006) Bending of the estrogen response element by polyamines and estrogen receptors alpha and beta: a fluorescence resonance energy transfer study. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 38, 1191-1206.
46. Nair SK, Thomas TJ, Greenfield NJ, Chen A, He H, Thomas T. (2005) Conformational dynamics of estrogen receptors alpha and beta as revealed by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and circular dichroism. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 35, 211-23.
47. Chen A.M., Santhakumaran L. M., Nair S. K., Amenta P. S., Thomas T., He H., and Thomas T. J. (2006) Oligodeoxynucleotide nanostructure formation in the presence of polypropyleneimine dendrimers and their uptake in breast cancer cells, Nanotechnology, 17, 5449-60.
48. Chen A.M., Nair SK, Thomas, T., Thomas TJ, He, H.X. (2006) Delivery of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides to Breast Cancer Cells with Dendrimer Modified Gold Nanoparticle NSTI Nanotech (Nano Science and Technology Institute), Boston, May 7-11, Technical Proceedings of the nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, 2, 29-32.
49. Sandhya Y. K., Pillai C. K. S. and Tsutsumi N. (2004) Stable Polymers for Nonlinear Optics: A Review based on Azobenzene Systems. Progress in Polymer Science 29, 45-74.
50. Sandhya Y. K. and Pillai C. K. S. (2004) Liquid Crystalline Polyesteramides: Role of nitro groups on the Phase Behavior, Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Physics 42, 1289 - 1298.
51. Sandhya Y. K., Pillai C. K. S., Sato M. and Tsutsumi N. (2003) Highly Stable Liquid Crystalline Main Chain Polymers Containing Azobenzene Mesogens for Nonlinear Optics: Effect of Liquid-Crystalline phase on NLO Property, Journal of Polymer Science Polymer Chemistry 41, 1527-1535.
52. Sandhya Y. K., Biji B. and Pillai C. K. S. (2004) Main chain liquid crystalline polymers containing azobenzene mesogen: effect of introduction of kink structures on thermal and phase behavior. J. Applied Polymer Science 91, 1976-82.
53. Sandhya Y. K., Pillai C. K. S., Sato M. and Tsutsumi N. (2002) Nonlinear optical properties and liquid crystalline behaviour of new polyesters with dipole moments aligned transverse to the backbone. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 203, 1126-1134.
54. Sandhya Y. K., Pillai C. K. S., Sree Kumar K. and Verma K. B. R. (2002) Structural and Dielectric Studies on Poly (l-lithocholic acid). J. Polymer Materials. 19, 303-308.
55. KY Sandhya, CKS Pillai, M Sato, N Tsutsumi, Non-linear optically active liquid crystalline polymers containing azobenzene mesogen Fibre Preprints (2003) Japan 58, 71-73.

National

56. C K S Pillai, K Y Sandhya, J D Sudha and M Swaminathan Influence of hydrogen bonding on the generation and stabilization of liquid crystalline polyesters, poly (esteramide)s and polyacrylates., Pramana 61, 2, August 2003, 417-25.

Patents

1.        1. Mohamed Mukthar Ali, K. Y. Sandhya* Mohamed Mukthar Ali, Water soluble complex of fullerenes and process for preparartion, thereof – Patent Awarded in 2017. License number-299379

Book Chapters

1.  K. Y. Sandhya, A Saritha, Kuruvilla Joseph, Liquid Crystalline Polymers from Renewable Resources: Synthesis and Properties 2016 (Springer) Liquid Crystalline Polymers p273-306.

 2.  KY Sandhya, CKS Pillai, Liquid Crystalline Polymers and Molecules Derived from Cardanol, A Natural Phenol Derivative: A Summary Cashew Nut Shell Liquid, 2017, p93- 108.

My Citations: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Rv6oi1sAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate