In this communication, a new nonlinear optical crystal of coordination complex, zinc cadmium tetrathiocyanate (ZnCd(SCN)(4)), is reported. It was successfully synthesized through several reactions in water. For the crystal structure, optical and thermal characterization were determined by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission spectrum. It belongs to the tetragonal system, space group I4, with a = 11.135(2), c = 4.3760(10) Angstrom, and z = 2. It exhibits powder SHG efficiencies superior to that of cadmium mercury thiocyanate (CMTC) and over 10 times that of urea, and the UV transparency cutoff is 290 nm, which is shifted to violet band 90 nm, compared with that of CMTC. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.