CaWO4 thin films are important functional materials. Electrochemical methods are widely used to fabricate such films. However, films' quality and properties need to be improved. To optimize their preparation, comparative experiments on their deposition were conducted. Investigation of the current densities revealed that the modification of catholytes with KMnO4 significantly enhanced the deposition rate, especially when their pH was 2; however, this oxidant should not be added to the anolytes because it greatly decreased both the deposition rate and the film's luminescence. A study of the mechanism revealed that the rate of electrodeposition of CaWO4 films is dominated by the diffusion of WO42- ions when the KMnO4 concentration is 0.01 M. However, without KMnO4, it is controlled by the reduction of water; when the concentration is less than 0.01 M, it is controlled by both the anodic and cathodic reaction. Characterization revealed that the crystallization, surface quality and luminescence properties of the samples deposited with the use of KMnO4 are much better than those of samples prepared by the hydrothermal galvanic cell or the constant current method. In our opinion, the presence of far fewer impurities and defects as a result of rapid growth may be the most important factor accounting for this improvement. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.