A　novel　non-centrosymmetric　borate,　BiCd3(AlO)(3)(BO3)(4),　has　been　prepared　by　solid　state　reaction　methods　below　750　degrees　C.　Single-crystal　XRD　analysis　showed　that　it　crystallizes　in　the　hexagonal　group　P6(3)　with　a=10.3919(15)　angstrom,　c=5.7215(11)　angstrom.　Z=2.　In　its　structure,　AlO6　octahedra　share　edges　to　form　1D　(1)(infinity)[AlO4](5-)　chains　that　are　bridged　by　BO3　groups　through　sharing　O　atoms　to　form　the　3D　(3)(infinity)[AlBO4](2-)　framework.　The　3D　framework　affords　two　kinds　of　channels　that　are　occupied　by　Bi3+/Cd2+　atoms　only　or　by　Bi3+/Cd2+　atoms　together　with　BO3　groups.　The　IR　spectrum　further　confirmed　the　presence　of　BO3　groups.　Second-harmonic-generation　measurements　displayed　a　response　of　about　0.5　x　KDP　(KH2PO4).　UV-vis　diffuse　reflectance　spectrum　showed　a　band　gap　of　about　3.19　eV.　Solid-state　fluorescence　spectrum　exhibited　the　maximum　emission　peak　at　around　390.6　nm.　Band　structure　calculations　indicated　that　it　is　an　indirect　semiconductor.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.