We examined the emission spectral properties of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) in a thin film of polyvinyl alcohol coated on quartz slides or on metallic silver particles. The relative intensities were several fold higher on the surface containing silver particles, and the decay times were several fold smaller. These results are consistent with an approximate 20-fold increase in the radiative decay rate of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) when near metallic silver particles. These results suggest the use of silver particles for increased detectability of the emission from transition metal-ligand complexes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.