The preparation of nanoscaled metal coatings and dispersions has been carried out via the photoinduced reduction of the metal salt solutions using viologen grafted on low density polyethylene (LDPE) films or dispersed in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. The effects of the UV irradiation time and concentration on the metal reduction process were investigated for gold, platinum, and palladium chloride salt solutions. The viologen grafted LDPE films after reaction with the metal salt solutions were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. Of the three metals tested, the platinum ions can be most readily reduced to the elemental state while the palladium remains predominantly as Pd2+ ions on the viologen grafted LDPE film surface. Nanosized dispersions of gold and platinum in the viologen-PVA matrix were also successfully obtained. The particle size can be varied by changing the concentration of the metal salt solution, and particles ranging from 10 nm, as determined from transmission electron microscopy, can be readily obtained.