Using Al₂(SO₄)₃·18H₂O and urea as raw materials, the spherical α-Al₂O₃ powder was prepared by hydrothermal-pyrolysis method. Using self-made α-Al₂O₃, Y₂O₃ and CeO₂ as raw materials, Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce³⁺ yellow phosphors for white light LEDs were prepared by solid-phase method. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray energy spectroscopy (EDS) and fluorescence spectroscopy (PL) etc. to characterize the phase, morphology and photoluminescence properties of the product. The results showed that the hydrothermal-pyrolysis method prepared spherical α-Al₂O₃ powder with pure phase and good dispersibility. Using the α-Al₂O₃ as raw material, the synthesized α-Al₂O₃ could be effectively excited by 460 nm blue light, and the emission spectrum peaked at 550 nm. Broadband Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce³⁺ phosphor with color coordinates (0.453, 0.531 9), The XRD pattern of Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce³⁺ phosphor was refined with GSAS software. The refined pattern is completely consistent with the XRD test pattern. The four elements of Y, Al, Ce and O are evenly distributed in the yellow phosphor product. The excitation spectrum of Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce³⁺ yellow phosphor consists of two parts. There are two pronounced absorption peaks at 340 and 460 nm. The 4f energy level of Ce³⁺ is split into two spectra due to spin-coupling. Branch terms ²F_7/2 and ²F_5/2, ²F_5/2 is the base spectrum term. The excitation peak at 340 nm corresponds to the transition from ²F_5/2→⁵D_5/2, the excitation peak at 460 nm belongs to the transition from ²F_7/2→⁵D_3/2, and the excitation intensity at 460 nm is stronger than the excitation intensity at 340 nm. The emission spectrum obtained with 460 nm as the monitoring wavelength, the strongest emission peak is at 550 nm, Y_2.93Al₅O₁₂∶0.07Ce³⁺ phosphor is a high-performance yellow phosphor suitable for white LEDs.