An organic light-emitting diode, organic solar cell or switching element comprising at least one substituted carbazole derivative of the general formula (I), (II) or (III) in which X is NR4, O, S or PR4; Y is NR5, O, S or PR5; where at least one of the symbols X and Y is NR4 or NR5; R1 and R3 are each independently substituted or unsubstituted C1-C20-alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30-aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl having 5 to 30 ring atoms or a substituent with donor or acceptor action selected from the group consisting of C1-C20-alkoxy, C6-C30-aryloxy, C1-C20-alkylthio, C6-C30-arylthio, SiR6R7R8, halogen radicals, halogenated C1-C20-alkyl radicals, carbonyl (-CO(R6)), carbonylthio (- C = O (SR6)), carbonyloxy (- C = O(OR6)), oxycarbonyl (- OC = O(R6)), thiocarbonyl (- SC = O(R6)), amino (-NR6R7), OH, pseudohalogen radicals, amido (- C = O (NR6)), -NR6C = O (R7), phosphonate (- P(O) (OR6)2), phosphate (-OP(O) (OR6)2), phosphine (-PR6R7), phosphine oxide (-P(0)R62), sulfate (-OS(0)2OR6), sulfoxide (-S(O)R6), sulfonate (-S(O)2OR6), sulfonyl (-S(O)2R6), sulfonamide (-S(O)2NR6R7), N02, boronic esters (-OB(OR6)2), imino (-C = NR6R7), borane radicals, stannane radicals, hydrazine radicals, hydrazone radicals, oxime radicals, nitroso groups, diazo groups, vinyl groups, sulfoximines, alanes, germanes, boroximes and borazines;