A carbon-based material just one atom thick is the focus of a new association. The National Graphene Association announced that it has offices in Oxford, Miss., Nashville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C.

An Oxford-based company, New Media Lab, formed the association, according to a report in the Mississippi Business Journal. http://bit.ly/2pLrn2M Billed as "the strongest and thinnest material in the world," graphene could eventually be used in a wide range of electronics and composite materials.

Graphene scientist Zina Jarrahi Cinker is NGA's first executive director.

"This is a pivotal time for the commercialization of graphene," Cinker said in a news release. "NGA is creating a platform that brings together current and future graphene stakeholders, drives innovation and facilitates the commercialization of graphene in the U.S. and beyond."

NGA will hold its first industry event in early October in Nashville.

Other graphene-related groups have formed in recent years. The Graphene Council has offices in Zug, Switzerland, and Washington, D.C. The Graphene Stakeholders Association launched in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2013.

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