An excellent EL device having low driving voltage, high luminous efficiency and long life can be obtained by using a charge-transporting thin film composed of a charge-transporting varnish which contains an arylsulfonic acid compound represented by the formula (1) or (2) below as an electron-acceptor material especially in an OLED device or a PLED device. [In the formulae, X represents O, S or NH; A represents a naphthalene ring or anthracene ring having a substituent other than X and n SO3H groups; B represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group, 1,3,5-triazine group or a substituted of unsubstituted group represented by the following formula (3) or (4): (wherein W1 and W2 each independently represents O, S, an S(O) group, an S(O2) group, or a substituted or unsubstituted N, Si, P or P(O) group); n indicates the number of sulfonic acid groups bonded to A which is an integer satisfying 1≦n≦4; q indicates the number of B—X bonds which is an integer satisfying 1≦q; and r indicates the number of recurring units which is an integer satisfying 1≦r.].