YOF: Yb 3+ , Er 3+ powders with rhombohedral phase were successfully synthesized by using a modified solgel method with calcinating under a temperature range between 400 C and 600 C. A systematic study on the temperature-dependent morphology and spectroscopic properties of rhombohedral YOF: Yb 3+ , Er 3+ powders have been performed. The YOF: Yb 3+ , Er 3+ powders that prepared at 400 C and 500 C exhibit a plate growth habit, while the powder that prepared at 600 C shows a sintering property. When excited by 980 nm laser beam, all of the rhombohedral YOF: Yb 3+ , Er 3+ powders show efficient red light emission with light wavelength ranging from 630 nm to 700 nm. The upconversion mechanism and luminescence decay properties were discussed in detail.