Pure and ytterbium-doped neodymium borotungstate (Nd3BWO9, and M2.85Yb0.15BWO9, respectively) single crystals have been grown by means of high-temperature solution growth method from 15 mol% solution in PbO. The phase of both crystals was confirmed to be hexagonal with acentric space group P6(3). Absorption and luminescence spectra as well as decay time for F-4(3/2) --> I-4(11/2) transition in neodymium borotungstate were measured and discussed. The obtained results show that Nd3BWO9 is suitable as high-neodymium-content laser crystal for microchip laser applications. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.