Abstract: Disclosed are methods of forming an antimicrobial and/or antiviral metal coating on a substrate comprising surface groups that bond to a metal alkoxide to form a 3-dimensional metal oxide/alkoxide adhesion layer. The methods include A) soaking or spraying a substrate comprising a 3-dimensional metal oxide/alkoxide layer with a solution of a transition metal salt, and reduction of the transition metal salt to form a continuous network of transition metal within the 3-D layer, or B) soaking or spraying a substrate comprising a 3-dimensional metal oxide/alkoxide layer with a solution of a post-transition metal salt, sintering at high temperature to form a continuous post-transition metal network within the 3-D layer, and electrolyzing to replace post-transition metal with a transition metal.