A light-emitting element comprises a substrate, a pair of opposed electrodes between which are provided a light-emitting layer containing at least one light-emitting material selected from compounds of general formula (I) and a host material, and which has an organic membrane having a larger ionization potential than that of the host material between the light-emitting layer and a cathode, with the organic membrane being in contact with the light-emitting layer:general formula (I) ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom or N--R.sup.Y1, R.sup.Y1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, L represents a linking group comprising a conjugated bond, R.sup.X and R.sup.Y may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with at least one of them being an electron-withdrawing group.