Abstract: The alumina powder co-doped with different ratio of Yb3+Er3+ was prepared with an advanced sol-gel method as batter material used for Er3+ doped waveguide amplifier.The absorption and emission spectra ware measured and analysed.The result indicated that the incorporation of Yb3+ could enhance the absorption of 980nm exciting light,for the Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped alumina power,the photoluminescence peak intensity at 1533nm was increased by a factor of about 6.3 compared with that of the Er3+ doped alumina powders.And optimum ratio of the Yb3+:Er3+ was 6:1 for this method.The X-ray diffraction spectra show that the best thermal treatment temperature was 900℃,and the incorporation of Yb3+could postponed the forming of γ-phase at 900℃ thermal treatment condition.The result is helpful for making more effective Er3+ doped waveguide amplifier.