The　18.7　at%　Nd:Ca8.53K1.09La0.95(VO4)7　crystal　with　dimensions　up　to　∅　22　mm×30　mm　was　grown　by　the　Czochralski　method.　The　X-ray　powder　diffraction　pattern　of　Nd:Ca8.53K1.09La0.95(VO4)7　crystal　confirms　that　the　as-grown　crystal　is　isostructural　with　pure　Ca9La(VO4)7　crystal.　The　effective　segregation　coefficients　of　Nd3+　and　K+　ions　in　the　crystal　were　measured　to　be　about　1.21　and　0.73,　respectively.　The　hardness　of　Nd:Ca8.53K1.09La0.95(VO4)7　crystal　is　about　358.3　VDH.　The　qualitative　frequency-doubling　experiment　shows　that　the　doping　of　K+　ion　can　help　reduce　the　scattering　of　frequency-doubling　light.　The　spectroscopic　study　of　Nd3+　in　Nd:Ca8.53K1.09La0.95(VO4)7　crystal　was　performed,　and　the　polarized　absorption　and　fluorescence　spectra　were　analyzed　based　on　Judd-Ofelt　theory,　which　exhibits　that　the　π-polarized　absorption　and　stimulated　emission　cross　sections　are　4.41×10-20　cm2　with　an　FWHM　11　nm　at　810　nm　and　1.61×10-19　cm2　at　1066　nm,　respectively.　The　fluorescence　lifetime　is　128　μs　at　room　temperature.　All　the　results　indicate　that　the　Nd:Ca8.53K1.09La0.95(VO4)7　crystal　may　be　a　highly　efficient　laser　material　and　thus　a　promising　candidate　of　self-frequency-doubling　laser　material.　©　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.