Chiral recognition of amino acid, D- and L-tryptophan, is achieved using (R)-(-)- or (S)-(+)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diylhydrogen phosphate (BHP)-capped quantized ZnO nanocrystallites as a fluorescent sensor. The chiroselective electron transfer is caused by the formation of the BHP capping layer on the surface of ZnO nanocrystallites. The ability for chiral recognition depends on the surface coverage and binding strength of the capping molecules on the nanocrystalline surface. Structural analysis of the capping molecules on the surface using circular dichroic spectra proved that screwness of the chiral molecules depends on the surface coverage. The ability of the BHP-capped ZnO system was improved when a well-packed surface capping layer of one enantiomeric form of chiral molecules was formed on the surface of ZnO nanocrystallites.