Thermal, structural & optical properties of Er doped oxyfluoride lead borate glasses in the B2O3-PbF2-PbO-Al2O3-WO3 system have been investigated. Properties of the glasses were analysed as a function of PbF2 concentration. Two multicomponent oxyfluoride systems were examined, where the B2O3:PbO+PbF2 molar ratio was either 3:1 or 4:5. Structural behaviour has been analysed using Raman & infrared spectroscopy in 1500-400cm-1 spectral region, where characteristic bands related to the B-O vibrations of the borate network are located. Addition of PbO and/or PbF2 to the borate glass results in the creation of trigonal BO3 & tetrahedral BO4 units. Quite intense & long lived near-infrared luminescence of Er3+ ions at 1.55 um related to the main 4I13/2 > 4I15/2 laser transition has been observed.
