At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a light-emitting element and a display substrate. The light-emitting element comprises a first
electrode, a light-emitting functional layer and a second
electrode, which are sequentially stacked in a first direction, wherein the light-emitting functional layer comprises a first
organic layer, a
first light-emitting layer, a second
organic layer, a second light-emitting layer, a spacer layer, a third light-emitting layer and a third
organic layer, which are sequentially stacked in the first direction; the material of the second light-emitting layer comprises a first
electron-blocking material and a light-emitting material doped in the first
electron-blocking material, the light-emitting material comprising at least one of a
platinum complex and an
iridium complex; and the material of the spacer layer comprises a second
electron-blocking material. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the original phenomenon of
exciton quenching caused by an excessively
high concentration of excitons on an interface of the second light-emitting layer is eliminated, and therefore the light-emitting element can emit light in the middle region of the second light-emitting layer, thereby improving the
luminous efficacy of the light-emitting element and prolonging the service life of a display substrate.