PNNL

Osman El Atwani is a materials scientist whose research focuses on developing novel metallic materials, including pure forms and alloys, and investigating their performance under extreme irradiation and mechanical conditions. He explores material behavior at multiple time and size scales using advanced techniques, such as in situ and ex situ electron microscopy, mechanical and nanomechanical testing, and surface science techniques. His work spans a range of nuclear-relevant materials, such as nanocrystalline tungsten, high-entropy alloys, Body-Centered Cubic model materials, advanced cladding materials, and additive manufactured steels. El Atwani’s prior research includes work on ion beam-induced semiconductor nanopatterning, soft materials and nanoreactors, and the development of ultra-high vacuum surface science systems, such as the Particle and Radiation Interaction of Hard and Soft Matter facility at Purdue University. His work contributes to the advancement of nuclear materials science. 

• Fusion energy 
• Nuclear energy
• Materials under extreme environments
• Materials/metallurgy
• Surface chemistry
• Advances in electron microscopy
• In-situ surface characterization techniques
• In-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/irradiation of ultrafine and nanocrystalline materials
• In-situ TEM/materials characterization
• Functional materials
• Nanopatterning of metals/semiconductors via ion beams (device applications)
• Plasma-surface and materials interactions in fusion devices
• Directed irradiation synthesis 
• Laser ablation and spectroscopy
• Irradiation driven nanostructures
• Nanoparticles and self-assembly
• Atomic force microscopy

• Electron microscopy 
• Surface analysis
• Vacuum technology
• Facility design and building
• Ion beam irradiation and implantation
• Force microscopy
• Quartz crystal microbalance
• UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, dynamic light scattering, grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering 
• Nanosecond and millisecond lasers
• Spectroscopy

• PhD in materials engineering, Purdue University
• MS in materials engineering, Sabanci University
• BS in chemistry, Middle East Technical University
• BS in chemical engineering, Middle East Technical University

• Member, Microscopy Society of America
• Member, Materials Research Society 

• Los Alamos Achievement Prize, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2021
• 2018 Postdoctoral Distinguished Performance Award, 2019
• Spot Award for Outstanding Performance and Lasting Contribution in Support of Los Alamos National Laboratory Mission, 2018 and 2020
• Outstanding Reviewer Award, Acta Materialia, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
• Seaborg Fellowship, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2017 – 2018
• Gursel Sonmez Research Award for Best Research Student of 2007, Sabanci University, 2008
• Yousef Jameel Fellowship Freedom of Research Award, Sabanci University, 2005 – 2008
• Recognition as First in Rank in Chemistry Department, Middle East Technical University, 2001-2004

• Allain, J.P, O. El-Atwani, J.J. P. Palacio. Methods for Directed Irradiation Synthesis with Ion and Thermal Beams. U.S. Patent WO2014074649A1, filed 30 May 2019, and issued 20 October 2020. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190292652A1/en.  
• El Atwani, O., and E. Martinez, Discovery of a tungsten-based high-entropy alloy with outstanding irradiation resistance. Provisional Patent Application, filed October 2019.

See Google Scholar for complete list of publications.

2025

• Edwards, D.J., A.L. Schemer-Kohrn, M.J. Olszta, R. Prabhakaran, Y. Zhu, J. Wang, and J.V. Haag, et al. 2025. "Understanding and Removing FIB Artifacts in Metallic TEM Samples Using Flash Electropolishing." Journal of Nuclear Materials 606:Art. No. 155618. PNNL-SA-202068. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2025.155618.
• Hatler, C., I. Robin, H. Kim, N. Curtis, B. Sun, E. Aydogan Gungor, and S. Fensin, et al. 2025. "The Path towards Plasma Facing Components: A Review of State-of-the-art in W-Based Refractory High-Entropy Alloys." Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science 34, no. _:Art. No. 101201. PNNL-SA-203922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cossms.2024.101201.

2024

• El Atwani, O., S.N. Supakul, I. Robin, and E. Aydogan Gungor. 2024. Down-selection of Innovative Fusion Materials. PNNL-37044. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Down-selection of Innovative Fusion Materials.
• Lloyd, M., J. Haley, B. Jim, R. Abernethy, M. Gilbert, E. Martinez, and K. Hattar, et al. 2024. "Microstructural Evolution and Transmutation in Tungsten under Ion and Neutron Irradiation." Materialia 33. PNNL-SA-195039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtla.2023.101991.
• Sainju, R., M. Patino, M. Baldwin, O. El Atwani, R. Kolasinski, and Y. Zhu. 2024. "In-situ ETEM study of plasma-facing tungsten nanofuzz oxidation at atmospheric pressure: microstructure evolution and substrate-free oxidation kinetics." Acta Materialia 278, no. _:Art. No. 120282. PNNL-SA-203921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2024.120282.