A series of Sm3+, Eu3+, and Sm3+/Eu3+ doped LiBaB9O15 are synthesized by a high temperature solid-state method. LiBaB9O15:Eu3+ can produce red emission (lambda(ex) = 395 nm), and the peak locates at 616 nm, which is attributed to D-5(0)-> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+. LiBaB9O15:Sm3+ can create orange red emission (Aex = 395 nm), and the peak locates at 599 nm, which is assigned to (4)G(5/2)-> H-6(7/2) transition of Sm3+ The energy transfer from Sm3+ to Eu3+ in LiBaB9O15 is confirmed by decay times of Sm3+. When the temperature is 150 C, the emission intensity of Eu3+ in LiBaB9O15:0.05Sm(3+), 0.1Eu(3+) is decreased to 76% of the initial intensity at room temperature, and the activation energy is calculated to be 0.268 eV, which prove good thermal stability of LiBaB9O15:Sm3+, Eu3+. The emission intensity of LiBaB9O15:Sm3+, Eu3+ can be tuned by tuning Eu3+ content, and Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates of LiBaB9O15:Sm3+, Eu3+ are located in the red region. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.