Methods for the production of deposition products including an oxidized metal species under both acidic and alkaline conditions, methods for the production of composite materials including a substrate and the deposition product, and products in the nature of deposition products and composite materials. The methods are particularly suited for depositing a very thin layer of a deposition product on a substrate and may be used to produce composite materials for use in many applications, including but not limited to electronics, materials engineering and medical applications. In a preferred embodiment, the metal is silver, the substrates are medical devices or components of medical devices and the deposition product includes an antimicrobially active oxidized silver species.