Pure and doped (zinc acetate, N-methylurea and glycine) cadmium thiourea acetate single crystals were grown by slow evaporation solution growth method. The UV-visible, high-resolution X-ray diffraction and dielectric studies show the enhancement in the crystalline perfection of the glycine-doped cadmium thiourea acetate. The zinc acetate does not have significant effect on the structural and chemical properties, but has some effect on the electrical properties. However, the addition of N-methylurea activates the cadmium thiourea acetate ions, resulting in the decrease of the space charge polarization and increase in intrinsic defects. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.