Semi organic NLO single crystals of zinc chloride doped L-lysinium succinate (ZnCl2-Lls) were grown using a slow evaporation method at ambient temperature. The structure and cell parameters of the grown crystal were determined by single crystal XRD and powder XRD studies. The 2-D surface morphology and elemental compositions were analyzed through SEM and EDAX studies. The 3-D surface topology was discussed using AFM images. Z-scan technique was used for measuring the third order nonlinear optical coefficients of the grown crystal. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.