CeF3 films have been grown on indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode through anode electrochemical generated acid in aqueous solutions. For the film electrodeposition, the local pH at the ITO anode electrode surface is decreased by electrochemically oxidizing water, and the stability of the Ce-ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid disodium complex is decreased to release free cerium ions to react with F- to form CeF3 deposits onto the ITO electrode. The procedure was also extended to grow CeF3:Tb films. The optical properties of electrodeposited CeF3 and CeF3:Tb films have been explored, and both films exhibit intense photoluminescence under UV excitation. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3380841] All rights reserved.