in order to grow benzophenone single crystal, an organic nonlinear optical material, a cost-effective Vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger system has been designed and fabricated by employing a two-zone, transparent furnace made out of immiscible liquids. Transparent, optical quality benzophenone single crystals were successfully grown as a result of a suitable thermal gradient achieved by means of introducing an intermediate liquid in between the two immiscible liquids. The effect of change in the volume of the intermediate liquid, thereby the thermal gradient on the growth parameters, was analyzed. The quality of the grown single crystal was justified using X-ray powder diffraction analysis, FTIR, TG-DTA and optical transmission studies. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.