Disclosed herein are methods and compositions of nanoparticles having one or more layers of organic coating. In some embodiments, a nanoparticle comprises a core/shell nanocrystal comprising a first coating layer comprising a plurality of organic molecules, and a second organic coating layer surrounding the first organic coating layer, wherein the second coating layer comprises a plurality of organic molecules. Further, the organic molecules of the second coating layer are intercalated between the organic molecules of the first coating layer.