The growth and characterization of YAl3(BO3)(4) (YAB), a potential nonlinear optical crystal for the fourth harmonic generation of Nd:YAG laser, was reported. Using top-seeded solution growth method, a YAB crystal with the dimensions of 16 x 16 x 18 mm(3) was obtained from B2O3-Li2O flux system. The advantages of this flux system and the growth process were discussed in detail. The as-grown YAB crystal was verified by powder X-ray diffraction. The transparency spectra indicated that the cut-off edge of the as-grown YAB was 170 nm. The fourth harmonic generation of a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser, from 532 to 266 nm, was carried out with a YAB crystal doubler for the first time. Output pulse power obtained was 2.4 mW at 266 nm and the conversion efficiency from 532 to 266 nm was about 15.6%. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.