<p>The advancement of technology in a variety of disciplines depends on the development of effective materials for photoelectronic devices. This study investigates the structural, optical, and thermal characteristics of L-tyrosine barium chloride crystals which were grown utilizing a solution growth technique. The crystal’s possible use in photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, and solar cells was assessed using characterization methods including x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, optical absorption studies, second harmonic generation efficiency, dielectric studies, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. The developed crystal crystallized in the orthorhombic system with the non-centrosymmetric space group <i>P</i>2. Fourier transform infrared spectral analyses showed that the discrete functional group in this crystal is oriented in the formed crystal. The material seems to have considerable optical transparency in the entire visible spectrum. The optical bandgap energy was also calculated and found to be 6.34&#xa0;eV. The mechanical properties of the grown crystal, as determined by a Vickers microhardness tester, showed that it is a soft material. The crystal’s second harmonic generation efficiency was 1.71 times higher than that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) crystal, as evidenced by nonlinear optical (NLO) experiments. The grown crystal’s low dielectric constant makes it an appropriate NLO material to be employed as a substrate in optoelectronic modulators and microelectronic manufacturing plants. According to the findings, the test crystals are intriguing options for optical and photoelectronic applications because of their advantageous properties, which include great optical transparency, superior thermal stability, high hardness, and a distinct crystalline structure.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>