The excitonic luminescence band of polycrystalline cadmium telluride layers has been investigated by Photoluminescence (PL) and Photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy (PLE). CdTe was deposited by means of close space sublimation and the samples were activated by different chlorine containing compounds, i.e. cadmium chloride, hydrochloric acid, and sodium chloride as well as by simple air activation or received no post deposition treatment. In the PL spectra, four different peaks within the excitonic luminescence band were resolved. These include the free-exciton peak and two transitions of excitons bound to defects. Furthermore, free excitons and band to band transitions were detected by means of PLE. The PL and PLE spectra are discussed with respect to the post deposition treatments. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.