Bi12TiO20 (BTO) single crystals were synthesized by a hydrothermal process in KOH solution at 180 degrees C for 4 h from Ti(OC4H9)(4) and Bi(NO3)(3)center dot 5H(2)O compounds. The effects of processing parameters on the growth and morphology of BTO single crystals were investigated. The KOH concentration, reaction time and temperature had a great effect on the phase composition and morphology of the resultant crystals. BTO phase could not be obtained with KOH concentrations lower than 3 M or higher than 5 M. XRD, SEM and TEM were used to characterize the samples. BTO single crystals were regular tetrahedron in morphology and 10 mu m or so in size. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.