Nanostructured Er3+-Si nanoparticles (NPs) codoped Al2O3 films were synthesized by a one step laser based deposition process which allows to form the Si NPs in situ at room temperature, and to control their size and separation with the Er ions in the nanoscale. Two different thermal annealing treatments are studied in order to optimize the photoluminescence (PL) emission: rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at 900 degrees C during 2 min, and conventional furnace step annealing at different temperatures up to 750 degrees C for 1 h. After RTA process the films show an important enhancement on the photoluminescence lifetime values which is related to a reduction of the non-radiative decay channels. Nevertheless, the Si NPs to Er ions energy transfer is strongly reduced. In contrast after conventional furnace annealing up to 700 degrees C, although there is only a moderate increase of the photoluminescence lifetime values, the excitation of Er ions through Si NPs is still active and as a consequence a large enhancement of the photoluminescence intensity with respect to the Er-only doped film is achieved. These different behaviours are most likely related to structural and chemical changes in the Er environment upon the different annealing processes. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.