Superconducting whiskers were grown by the self-flux method from Bi2Sr2Ca0.9La0.1Cu2O8+delta + 0.2Bi(2)O(3) melt, The whiskers of composition Bi1.82Sr1.38Ca0.2La0.38Cu1.0O6+delta were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy element analysis, X-ray diffraction, and ac susceptibility measurement. The onset superconducting transition temperature is 24 K, which is consistent with previous reports. Possible reasons for the whisker growth and the formation of the Bi-2201 phase are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.