Novel LiAl7B4O17(LABO) phosphor activated with trivalent rare earth ions (RE = Tb, Sm) was synthesized by using solution combustion synthesis. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), photoluminescence (PL), critical transfer distance (R-c) and quenching mechanism studies were employed to characterize the samples. Under ultraviolet irradiation of the LiAl7B4O17:Tb3+, Sm3+ phosphors exhibit the typical green (D-5(4) -> F-7(j) = 6, 5, 4 and 3) emission band of the Tb3+ ions, as well as an orange-red and red ((4)G(5/2) -> H-6(J=5/2, 7/2, 9/2)) emission bands of the Sm3+ ions. These results suggest that Tb3+ and Sm3+ activated LABO phosphor could be promising in vision of the necessity for solid state lighting applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.