Spectroscopy and photoluminescence of complex lead-silicate glass doped with copper

•High optical quality Cu-doped lead-silicate glasses of complex composition are obtained.•EPR, XRD, IR transmission, UV-Vis absorption, and photoluminescence of the glass are studied.•Optical band gap (Egopt) and Urbach energy (ΔE) for obtained glass were evaluated and analysed.•Photoluminescence spectra and decay kinetics of Cu+ centres in studied glass were interpreted.•Intrinsic photoluminescence broad band in the visible range was discovered and analysed.