We prepared BiSr2CaCu2Oy (Bi-2212) single crystals by a modified vertical Bridgman method, where the single crystals were grown rotating crucibles. We investigated the dependences of crystal growth on the temperature gradients at the growth region, the starting temperatures of growth (T-s) and the rotation speeds of the crucibles. When the Bi-2212 single crystals were grown under the temperature gradient of around 4.0degreesC/mm, the T-s of more than 975degreesC and the rotation speed of about 25 rpm, large plate-like Bi-2212 single crystals with good crystallinity were obtained. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.