Visible blue cathodoluminescence (CL), photoluminescence (PL), x-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) and electroluminescence (EL) via Z f free excitonic emission have been obtained from CuBr thin films deposited on glass, Cr coated glass, GaAs and Si substrates. In addition to the Z f emission several peaks corresponding to Cu + emissions via 3d 94s ↔ d 10 transitions were observed on the AC EL spectrum at 2.10, 2.7, 3.03, 3.07 and 3.80 eV. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements confirmed that the vacuum evaporated CuBr thin films grow preferentially with a (111) orientation irrespective of the substrate. While the AC voltage source was found to have no detrimental effects on CuBr thin films, cathodic deposition of Cu metal via electrolytic decomposition was observed under steady state DC voltage stresses. The results from the various luminescence experiments suggest that CuBr thin films may be used as a phosphor layer in blue emitting AC thin film electroluminescent devices (ACTFELD). © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.