Single crystals of cadmium thiourea acetate (CTA), a semi-organic nonlinear optical material, have been grown from a low-temperature solution method by a slow evaporation method at ambient temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction pattern and FTIR spectrum analysis has confirmed the formation of the new crystal. CTA has good optical transmission in the entire visible region, which is an essential requirement for a nonlinear crystal. The optical second harmonic generation conversion efficiency of CTA was determined using Kurtz powder technique. The microhardness and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis of the grown crystal were studied. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.