A light emitting device comprising a dispersion of semiconductor nanocrystals in a hole transport organic layer, wherein the outer surface of the nanocrystals is obtained from a process in which the nanocrystals are grown in a coordinating solvent so as to form a layer of compounds derived from the solvent on the outer surface of the nanocrystals, and wherein the compounds derived from the solvent are then modified by repeated exposure to an excess of a competing coordinating group, wherein the competing coordinating group is selected from phosphines, thiols, amines and phosphates, and wherein the semiconductor nanocrystals include a coordinating ligand on the surface and the coordinating ligand has the formula wherein k is 2, 3 or 5, and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 such that k-n is not less than zero; X is O, S, S=O, SO 2, Se, Se=O, N, N=O, P, P=O, As, or As=O, and each of Y and L, independently, is a straight or branched C 2-12 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one double bond, at least one triple bond, or at least one double bond and one triple bond, the hydrocarbon chain being optionally substituted with one or more C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, C 2-4 alkynyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, hydroxyl, halo, amino, nitro, cyano, C 3-5 cycloalkyl, 3-5 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, or formyl; and the hydrocarbon chain being optionally interrupted by -O-, -S-, -N(R a)-, -N(R b)-C -O-, -O-C -N(R a)-, -N(R a)-C -N(R b)-, -O-C -O-, -P(R a)-, or -P (R a)-, wherein each of R a and R b, independently, is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroxylalkyl, hydroxyl, or haloalkyl; and wherein the hole transport organic layer includes a phenyl amine, a polyaniline, a polypyrrole, a poly(phenylene vinylene), copper phthalocyanine, an aromatic tertiary amine or polynuclear aromatic tertiary amine, a 4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl compound, or an N,N,N'N'-tetraarylbenzidine. wherein k is 2, 3 or 5, and n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 such that k-n is not less than zero; X is O, S, S=O, SO 2, Se, Se=O, N, N=O, P, P=O, As, or As=O, and each of Y and L, independently, is a straight or branched C 2-12 hydrocarbon chain optionally containing at least one double bond, at least one triple bond, or at least one double bond and one triple bond, the hydrocarbon chain being optionally substituted with one or more C 1-4 alkyl, C 2-4 alkenyl, C 2-4 alkynyl, C 1-4 alkoxy, hydroxyl, halo, amino, nitro, cyano, C 3-5 cycloalkyl, 3-5 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyloxy, C 1-4 alkyloxycarbonyl, C 1-4 alkylcarbonyl, or formyl; and the hydrocarbon chain being optionally interrupted by -O-, -S-, -N(R a)-, -N(R b)-C -O-, -O-C -N(R a)-, -N(R a)-C -N(R b)-, -O-C -O-, -P(R a)-, or -P (R a)-, wherein each of R a and R b, independently, is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, hydroxylalkyl, hydroxyl, or haloalkyl; and wherein the hole transport organic layer includes a phenyl amine, a polyaniline, a polypyrrole, a poly(phenylene vinylene), copper phthalocyanine, an aromatic tertiary amine or polynuclear aromatic tertiary amine, a 4,4'-bis(9-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl compound, or an N,N,N'N'-tetraarylbenzidine.