Hard core proof of the polyvinyl alcohol as a reducer for the formation of gold nanoparticles

•It is an economical and a green method of synthesis of gold nanoparticles.•PVA is acting as a surfactant and a reducing agent in synthesis of gold nanoparticles.•The capping of hydrophilic PVA on the gold nanoparticles, makes the gold colloidal highly water dispersible.•The colloidal stability of the prepared gold nanoparticles is more than one year.•The thermal stability of the Au-PVA nanocomposites films increase with increasing Au content in the films.