In this paper, the technique of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) has been employed to investigate the surface defects of the (111) appearing face in 0.92Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.08PbTiO(3) (PZN-8%PT) crystals. From the ESEM images, we succeeded in observing and studying the growth hillocks and etch pits, low-angle grain boundaries, and sub-grain boundaries in (111) face, which were related to the generation of dislocation and stacking faults, respectively. On the other hand, an image of a unique multi-layer lamellar structure and fine step structure obtained in the (111) face reveals that the dominant fast growth mechanism of PZN-8%PT crystal grown by the flux method is a sub-step mechanism, unlike the screw dislocation growth mechanism. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.