TeO 2 crystal has excellent acousto-optic properties and double  decay properties of high natural abundance of 130 Te isotope. It can be used in high-performance acousto-optic devices and also for the research of neutrino and dark matter. Recently, the above applications raise the requirements for the size and quality of TeO 2 crystal. Structure and physical properties of TeO 2 crystal are briefly introduced in this article, and then the recent progress on the preparation of large sized TeO 2 crystal with high quality and its application in infrared devices are reviewed. Finally, its preparation and application in future of TeO 2 crystal are discussed.