Aspects of the disclosure include electroluminescent devices and methods for making the same. The devices include a substrate, a hole-injection electrode layer, an electroluminescent layer, and an electron-injection electrode layer, such as a layer that includes an air-stable, low work function material, which layer is capable of achieving efficient electron injection with reduced current leakage. In certain embodiments, the devices may contain an efficient electron injection layer that includes a composition comprising a polymer, e.g., a polymer that contains polar components (such as a polar functional group), and a metal diketonate. In certain embodiments, the devices may contain an electron injection layer that includes polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether and barium or calcium acetylacetonate. Methods of manufacturing such devices, for instance, employing a solution processing step for the deposition of an electron injection layer, as well as the use of the produced device(s) in electroluminescent displays is also provided herein.