Sol-gel synthesis and enhanced 1.54 μm emission in Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+ nanophosphors co-doped with Ce3+ ions

•Sol-gel synthesis of Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+ nanophosphors.•The 1.534 μm emission of Y2O3:Yb3+, Er3+ enhanced greatly with Ce3+ doping.•The green and red upconversion emission of the phosphors was restrained.•The effective energy transfer between Er3+ and Ce3+ enhanced 1.534 μm emission.