High-quality Bi2Sr2-xLaxCuO6+delta (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.64) (La-doped Bi-2201) single crystals sized up to similar to20 x 5 x 1.0 mm(3) were successfully grown using the travelling-solvent floating-zone method. The effect of La substitution of Sr on the crystal growth, structure and superconducting properties was studied. Both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and neutron scattering measurements demonstrate the high quality of these crystals with mosaicity less than 0.5degrees. Powder XRD analysis indicates that the crystals possess the orthorhombic structure. The La-free Bi-2201 crystals do not show superconductivity down to 2 K, while the La-doped crystals exhibit superconductivity with transition temperature T-c = 20,28, 33,15 and 12 K for samples with actual La content x = 0.28, 0.36, 0.43, 0.57 and 0.64, respectively. Upon decreasing carrier concentration (increasing La content x), the in-plane resistivity rho(ab) shows a change from metallic behaviour to a semiconductor-like behaviour in the low temperature region. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.