The bulk single crystals of 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) have been grown by slow cooling solution growth technique using acetone and ethanol as solvents. Good-quality crystals were obtained from ethanol as solvent. The Solubility in acetone and ethanol was studied. The X-ray diffraction and mass spectrum studies were performed for material confirmation. FT-IR and FT-Raman measurements were carried Out for spectral analyses. The factor group analysis was carried Out for TNP which predicts that there are 453 vibrational optical modes. Relative second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of TNP was compared with that of urea and KDP. TNP exhibit SHG efficiency over 1.4 order of magnitude higher than that of urea and 13.4 order of magnitude higher than that of KDP. The melting point, hardness and UV-Vis spectral studies were carried for the grown crystals. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.