Er3+-Tm3+-Yb3+ codoped Y2O3 phosphor has been synthesized by optimized combustion synthesis process and its white light upconversion emission property is investigated using cheap 980 nm diode laser excitation. Efficient red, green and blue light emission bands, necessary for attaining white light emission, are observed in the codoped sample. The concentration of each rare earth ion is adjusted to get the required emission. In this phosphor, interestingly, emission colour coordinates are found to almost independent on the excitation power density. The temperature sensing behaviour of the prepared samples has also been studied using fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.