This article reviews the mechanisms through which molecules adsorbed to the surfaces of
semiconductor nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), influence the pathways for and dynamics
of intra-and interband exciton relaxation in these nanostructures. In many cases, the surface
chemistry of the QDs determines the competition between Auger relaxation and electronic-to-
vibrational energy transfer in the intraband cooling of hot carriers, and between electron or
hole-trapping processes and radiative recombination in relaxation of band-edge excitons …