Silver nanoparticles were prepared by microwave irradiation of silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution in ethanolic medium using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizing agent. Ethanol was observed to act as a reducing agent in the presence of microwave. Appearance of surface plasmon band at 416 nm indicated the formation of silver nanoparticles. Highly monodispersed stable polycrystalline silver nanoparticles were obtained within 5 s of microwave irradiation. Through transmission electron microscopy silver nanoparticles were observed to be spherical with 10 +/- 5 nm diameter. Silver nanoparticles exhibited fluorescence band at 491 nm. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.