Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-stabilised silver nanoparticles have been synthesised by the simple reduction process at different temperatures ranging from 60 to 90°C. The as-synthesised silver nanoparticles were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays, transmission electron microscope, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. XRD studies showed that the samples exhibited cubic structure. The average particle size was found to be ∼50nm. FTIR spectra revealed that the synthesised nanoparticles were successively capped by PVA. Optical absorption spectra confirmed the uniformity of as-prepared silver nanoparticles and the absorption peak was observed in the range 390-421nm. © 2011 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.