Abstract: Functionalized polymers and methods of functionalizing polymers with reactive species having decontaminating activity, such as polyoxometalates and metal oxides. Covalent bonding of the reactive species to the polymer securely immobilizes the reactive species and stabilizes the decontaminating activity of the reactive species. Specifically, the covalent bonding of the reactive species greatly reduces moisture deactivation during prolonged exposure to atmospheric moisture. Polyoxometalates are catalytically reactive through oxidative pathways and metal oxides are reactive through hydrolytic pathways. Both polyoxometalates and metal oxides having oxygen atoms available for covalent bonding with an appropriate bifunctional linking agent.