AbstractSamarium chloride-thiourea-l-tartaric acid (SCTuT): a semi-organic material was prepared in the form of a single crystal with an orthorhombic crystal structure and a space group Pnma. The crystallinity and purity of the single crystals were tested by powder X-ray diffraction. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows the rod-like microstructure. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis has confirmed the elemental composition. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy analysis established the mode of coordination and functional groups. The thermal effects such as dehydration, melting and decomposition, etc. were observed by the thermogravimetric and differential thermoanalytical (TGA/DTA) analysis. Linear and non-linear characteristics of the compound were studied in detail. The optical band transitions due to C=O and C=S chromophores remain active in grown crystals and thus are recorded in the UV-Vis optical spectrum. The crystals possess finite values of non-linear absorption, non-linear refraction and third order nonlinearity as confirmed by Z-scan experiments.