0.2%-3% weight of dy3+ ions doped 64ges(2)center dot 16ga(2)s(3)center dot 20cdi(2) glasses were synthesized, and their spectroscopic properties were investigated. it was shown that the host glass could dissolve as much as 3% dy3+ ions without deteriorating the glass transparency. the mid-infrared (mir) emissions of the glasses did not present remarkable concentration quenching when the dy3+ ions concentration was less than 0.6%. it was also shown that the mir emission properties could be significantly improved by reducing s-h/o-h impurities in the glasses. the spectral analyses indicated that the 2.9 and 4.3 mu m emissions of dy3+ ions in the glass showed relatively large stimulated emission cross sections. the glass doped with as high as 0.4% dy3+ ions was successfully drawn into fibers, indicating good potential of the doped glass for mir lasers. (c) 2016 elsevier b.v. all rights reserved.