Potassium tantalate (KTaO3) crystals doped with barium were grown by top-seeded solution growth (TSSG) method. The effect of seed orientation on the external habit formation Was studied, It as found that while using an 0 10)oriented seed the crystal yield was much higher than ( 10 0)-oriented seed. also the crystal had a wide ( 100) plane. It was found that while using an (I 10) seed the barium doping was homogeneous Without any striations, The presence of barium in the crystal was estimated by laser ablation induction-coupled plasma studies. The composition or (lie crystals was studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS) Measurements. Characterization studies such as dielectric, X-ray and electrical conductivity studies were performed for barium-doped KT. High-quality, bulk KT:Ba crystals of size (4 x 3 x 3 cm(3)) weighing 20 g were grown. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.