Acentric phosphate KGd(PO3)(4) crystal is a new candidate for self-frequency-doubling laser host material. A large single crystal of KGd0.95Nd0.05(PO3)(4) has been successfully grown by the top seeded growth method from a high-temperature self-flux melt. Morphology of the as-grown crystal has been discussed and crystal cleavage has been observed. Optical absorption spectrum of the crystal has been measured, and the results showed that KGd0.95Nd0.05(PO3)(4) crystal would be very suitable to be pumped by laser diode and especially its self-absorption for the second harmonic of the incident 1064 nm laser was weakened remarkably compared with KNd(PO3)(4) crystal with the same acentric structure. The experiment for second harmonic generation (SHG) also confirmed that the SHG efficiency of KGd0.95Nd0.05(PO3)(4) had been hardly influenced by the self-absorption of Nd3+ for low concentration. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.