1. A dispersant for stabilizing nanoparticles, in particular inorganic non-metallic nanoparticles is described. Said dispersant comprises at least one anchor group A, and at least one spacing group R covalently linked to said anchor group, said anchor group A is an unsaturated at least partially conjugated substituted six-membered homocycle or heterocycle and comprises two surface interacting oxygen or hydroxy substituents on adjacent carbon atoms in the ring. In the case of a homocyclic ring said ring comprises at least one further electronegative substituent on the ring, in the case of a heterocyclic ring the further electronegative substituent on the ring is optional.