In this study sol-gel and combustion process was surveyed for the preparation of the red Y2O3: Eu phosphor, and the properties of phosphor was considered. Chelation and hydrolysis in amorphous citrate sol-gel process were completed in initial reaction stage, and water-forming condensation was superior to organic acid-forming condensation. The mole ratio of citric acid to metal ion had to be above to for the progress of sol-gel process. The dried gel powders are mostly amorphous, and crystallize completely at 700 ℃, and the crystallinity increases with increasing calcining temperature. The luminescence property of the phosphor was analyzed by measuring the emission spectra. The luminescence intensity increases when the calcination temperature and concentration of metal ions in solution increase.