Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O-3-PbTiO3 (PYNT) single crystals were firstly grown using the high temperature solution method. Based on X-ray powder diffraction and thermal behavior of polycrystalline material, issues of perovskite instability were revealed. Barium additions were used to aid in the stabilization of the perovskite rhombohedral phase. The Curie temperature of PYNT (60/40) was found to vary from 244degreesC to 268degreesC, the characteristic of relaxor ferroelectric with the temperature of dielectric maximum increasing with increasing frequencies. Electrical properties of PYNT (60/40) investigated along < 0 0 1 >, < 0 1 1 >, and < 1 1 1 > pseudo-cubic directions, revealed remnant polarizations (Pr) of 26.5, 27.6 and 41.6 muC/cm(2), respectively, while the coercive fields (E-c) were 10. 1, 9.4, and 11.5 kV/cm. The piezoelectric coefficient (d(33)) of < 0 0 1 > oriented samples was found to be similar to1200 pC/N, with a strain reaching 0.54% at 100 kV/cm. The large piezoelectric coefficient, coercive field, and high T-c (>250degreesC) make PYNT single crystals promising candidates for high temperature and high performance solid-state actuators and transducers. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.