Three　potential　techniques,　i.e.　the　optical　taper　fiber–microsphere　device(OFMD),　employment　of　the　low　phonon　energy　tellurite　glass　and　the　optimal　concentration　of　rare-earth　ions　are　investigated　and　identified　for　improving　the　efficiency　of　up-conversion　(UC)　luminescence　for　rare-earth　ion　doped　materials　excited　by　laser.　The　tellurite　glass　with　composition　of　77TeO2–12Na2O–5ZnO–5La2O3　was　synthesized　with　different　Yb3+/Tm3+co-doped　concentration.　The　OFMD　with　high　efficiency　coupling　and　high　energy　density　whispering　gallery　mode　(WGM)　was　constructed.　By　the　excitation　of　976　nm　laser,　the　WGM　resonance　enhancement　UC　blue　(475　nm)　and　red　(648　nm)　light　were　obtained.　The　WGM　resonance　enhancement　UC　luminescence　mechanism,　the　rare-earth　ions　energy　transfer　mechanism　and　the　optimal　Tm3+　concentration　were　investigated.　©　2018　Elsevier　B.V.