An inorganic thin film electroluminescent display element having a layer structure comprising: a first dielectric layer, a luminescent layer, comprising a luminescent material, on the first dielectric layer, and a second dielectric layer on the luminescent layer. Each of the first and the second dielectric layers comprises nanolaminate with alternating aluminum oxide Al2O3 and hafnium oxide HfO2 sub-layers, the nanolaminate having at least two sub-layers of both types and a thickness of less than or equal to 300 nm.