Broadband infrared luminescence in Yb-doped Bi2O3–GeO2 glasses

•The Yb-doped Bi2O3–GeO2 glasses show broadband NIR emission under 785 nm excitation.•The decay time was about several hundred microseconds.•The NIR emission should be related to Yb3+ and Bi+/Bi2+ ions.

The Yb-doped Bi2O3–GeO2 glasses were prepared by the conventional melt quenching technique. Near-infrared (NIR) broadband emission was found at about 1024 nm, and 1330 nm (under 785 nm excitation), and the measured fluorescent lifetime was about several hundred microseconds. The emission intensity of Yb-doped Bi2O3–GeO2 glasses increased with increasing of Yb dopant in our experiments. The NIR emission should be related to Yb3+ and lower valence Bi ions.