Effects of Yb codoping on the photoluminescence of Er3+ ions at room temperature in SiO2 films thermally grown on silicon are investigated. We demonstrate that for an excitation wavelength of 488 nm Yb ions act as efficient sensitizers of the I-4(13/2)-I-4(15/2) emission of Er3+ ions. We have found that for the fixed dose of Yb the Er3+ intensity is directly proportional to the Er concentration. Enhancement by a factor of 15 due to Yb codoping has been observed. A model of the mechanism responsible for sensitization is discussed. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)03432-4].