The Mg-doped near stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystal of 30 mm in diameter and 30 min in length was grown by top seed solution growth (TSSG) method from a stoichiometric melt doped with 1 mol% MgO and 11 mol% K2O. Compared with congruent LiNbO3 crystal doped with the same concentration of MgO grown with the conventional Czochralski method, the Mg-doped near stoichiometric LiNbO3 showed shorter absorption edge wavelength and position and shape of OH- infrared absorption band had changed distinctly. Acid etching results showed that the as grown crystal had regional single domain structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.