Temperature　sensor　and　field　emission　displays　(FED)　are　the　intensive　topics　for　Sm3+　activated　red　phosphor.　In　this　study,　a　novel　lithium　nitride　red　phosphor　Li2CaSi2N4:Sm3+　was　successfully　prepared　by　solid　phase　method.　The　photoluminescence　and　cathodoluminescence　performances　were　systematically　studied　to　explore　the　possibility　in　FED　and　temperature　sensor　applications.　The　results　indicate　that　the　Li2CaSi2N4:Sm3+　phosphor　features　intense　red　emission　under　the　UV　light　and　cathode　ray　excitations.　The　phosphor　also　has　a　long　red　afterglow　with　an　afterglow　time　of　12.7　min.　Most　importantly,　Li2CaSi2N4:Sm3+　exhibits　excellent　temperature　sensitivity　with　the　relative　sensitivity　of　4.8%　K−1　@473　K,　which　is　higher　than　other　temperature　sensor　materials.　The　thermal　quenching　mechanism　was　proposed　based　on　a　configurational-coordinate　model.　Moreover,　excellent　cathode　ray　saturation　and　aging　resistance　were　observed　in　Li2CaSi2N4:Sm3+.　The　results　indicate　that　Li2CaSi2N4:Sm3+　is　a　potential　temperature　sensor　and　FED　materials.　©　2021　Elsevier　B.V.