A novel nano-porous 12CaO center dot 7Al(2)O(3):Sm3+ conductive phosphor with red emissions has been prepared by a self-propagating combustion method in combination with subsequent treatments under different conditions. Upon 404 nm excitation, the phosphor shows four dominating red emission peaks at 564, 601, 648 and 709 nm, which are attributed to the (4)G(5/2) ->, H-6(5/2), H-6(7/2), H-6(9/2), H-6(11/2) transitions of Sm3+, respectively. The concentration-dependent luminescence of the phosphor shows that the dipole-dipole interaction is the major mechanism for the concentration quenching of red emissions of Sm3+ ions in the phosphor. Absorption and electron spin resonance spectra indicate that the existence of encaged electrons in the phosphor plays a key role in the contribution to its conductive performance. Under electron beam excitation, the conductive phosphor exhibits the enhanced cathodoluminescence and the improved chromaticity coordinate compared to the insulating phosphor. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.