Synthesis of remarkably stabilized metal nanostructures using polyoxometalates

This report reviews the state of the art as concerns the synthesis of metal nanostructures synthesized with polyoxometalates acting as both reducing and capping agents. Two main strategies appear in the literature: the reduced polyoxometalates, necessary for carrying out the process, can be obtained by photochemical reduction or be synthesized directly with reducing capabilities. This last strategy is recent and is shown to feature a green chemistry-type'' synthesis of metal nanostructures.