An aqueous catalyst solution comprising; one or more antioxidants, wherein said antioxidants are selected from ascorbic acid, phenolic acid, polyphenolic compounds, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoaldehydes, catechol, hydroquinone, catechin and flavonoids; and nanoparticles ranging in size from 1 nm to 1000 nm, wherein said nanoparticles are of metal chosen from silver, gold, platinum, iridium, copper, aluminum, cobalt, nickel and iron and a stabilizing polymer, wherein said stabilizing polymer is one or more compounds chosen from: (i) polymers having a formula: wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 are the same or different and chosen from -H, -CH 2 COOX, -C -CH 3, -C -(CH 2),-CH 3 and wherein at least one of R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 is -C -CH 3 or-CH 2 COOX, and wherein n is an integer of at least 2, z is an integer of at least 1 and X is -H or a counter cation; and (ii) a reaction product of a polymer having a formula: wherein R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 are the same or different and are chosen from -H, -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 3, -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 and -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, with the proviso that at least one of R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 is -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x -OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 or -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, wherein R 8 is -H or -CH 3, n and z are as described above, and x and y are integers of at least 1; a quaternary compound having a formula: or wherein m is an integer from 1 to 16, Y is halogen, Z - is a counter anion, R 16, R 17 and R 18 are the same or different and are -H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) p -CH 3, and R 19 is -H or -CH 3 and p is an integer of 1 to 9; and one or more cross-linking agents; wherein the catalyst is free of tin. one or more antioxidants, wherein said antioxidants are selected from ascorbic acid, phenolic acid, polyphenolic compounds, gallic acid, hydroxybenzoaldehydes, catechol, hydroquinone, catechin and flavonoids; and nanoparticles ranging in size from 1 nm to 1000 nm, wherein said nanoparticles are of metal chosen from silver, gold, platinum, iridium, copper, aluminum, cobalt, nickel and iron and a stabilizing polymer, wherein said stabilizing polymer is one or more compounds chosen from: (i) polymers having a formula: wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 are the same or different and chosen from -H, -CH 2 COOX, -C -CH 3, -C -(CH 2),-CH 3 and wherein at least one of R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 is -C -CH 3 or-CH 2 COOX, and wherein n is an integer of at least 2, z is an integer of at least 1 and X is -H or a counter cation; and (ii) a reaction product of a polymer having a formula: wherein R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 are the same or different and are chosen from -H, -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 3, -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 and -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, with the proviso that at least one of R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 is -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x -OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 or -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, wherein R 8 is -H or -CH 3, n and z are as described above, and x and y are integers of at least 1; a quaternary compound having a formula: or wherein m is an integer from 1 to 16, Y is halogen, Z - is a counter anion, R 16, R 17 and R 18 are the same or different and are -H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) p -CH 3, and R 19 is -H or -CH 3 and p is an integer of 1 to 9; and one or more cross-linking agents; (i) polymers having a formula: wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 are the same or different and chosen from -H, -CH 2 COOX, -C -CH 3, -C -(CH 2),-CH 3 and wherein at least one of R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, R 6 and R 7 is -C -CH 3 or-CH 2 COOX, and wherein n is an integer of at least 2, z is an integer of at least 1 and X is -H or a counter cation; and (ii) a reaction product of a polymer having a formula: wherein R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 are the same or different and are chosen from -H, -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 3, -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 and -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, with the proviso that at least one of R 9, R 10, R 11, R 12, R 13, R 14, and R 15 is -CH 2 OH, -[CH 2 CHR 8] x -OH, -CH 2 CH CH 3 or -(CH 2 CHR 8 O) y -H, wherein R 8 is -H or -CH 3, n and z are as described above, and x and y are integers of at least 1; a quaternary compound having a formula: or wherein m is an integer from 1 to 16, Y is halogen, Z - is a counter anion, R 16, R 17 and R 18 are the same or different and are -H, -CH 3 or -(CH 2) p -CH 3, and R 19 is -H or -CH 3 and p is an integer of 1 to 9; and one or more cross-linking agents;