Silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) have been attracting attention as active materials in a variety of proto-type devices including, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and photodetectors.  These, and other device structures require well-defined materials with predictable properties.  Traditionally SiNC surfaces are rendered processable and stable toward oxidation by employing a variations of the general hydrosilylation reaction; they all involve the addition of a silicon-hydride bond in the SiNC surface across a carbon-carbon double (or triple) bond and affords a “monolayer” attached through a robust silicon-carbon linkage. Recently, it has come to light that typical hydrosilylation conditions can afford insulating multilayers that can render SiNCs electrically inactive.  This finding led us to explore alternative functionalization protocols.  In doing so, we discovered that surface chemistry provides another degree of freedom with which SiNC properties may be tailored.  For example, it can be used to tailor the photoluminescent response throughout the visible spectrum, used to prepare SiNC/polymer hybrids, and even induce reactivity that provides polymerization of workhorse electronic polymers without the use of expensive transition metal catalysts.  This presentation will include a discussion of our recent exploration into SiNC surface chemistry, new reactive platforms that have opened the door to new functional materials, and what our discoveries mean for the future of these fascinating materials.