Both acoustic and optical properties of thallium ion-exchanged KTiOPO4 (Tl:KTP) plates were examined. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocity of the thallium-exchanged z-cut KTP possesses a reduction of 13% from the unchanged KTP. Temperature stability of SAW resonance (1/f0 df/dT) changed from almost-equal-to -81 ppm of an untreated z-cut KTP substrate to almost-equal-to -121 ppm of a z-cut Tl:KTP substrate. Large optical refractive indices changed at the Tl ion-exchanged surface were observed [DELTAn(eff)(TE)almost-equal-to0.3, DELTAn(eff)(TM)almost-equal-to0.22]. Tl ion concentration profile from the crystal surface into substrate was also studied using electron beam microscopy and the optical index m-line measurement. Tl-exchanged KTP, therefore, possesses both acoustic and optical waveguiding properties. (C) 1994 American Institute of Physics.