Preparation of silver nanoparticles in the presence of polyoxometalates.

The mechanisms of reduction of silver ions and subsequently oxidation of silver atoms in the presence of polyoxometalates (POMs) are discussed. A step-by-step room temperature electron reduction of silver ions and its subsequent reactions has been used in this work to monitor oxidation of silver atoms and its clusters. The silver atoms can transfer electron to POMs is revealed by decrease in the yield of silver clusters and increase in their decay rates.