Macromolecules like proteins are able to adhere to tin oxide electrodes at open circuit potential as proved by electrogravimetry experiments. In this work, electrochemical impedance studies were performed at aqueous electrolyte/F- or Sb-doped semiconducting tin oxide interfaces, including natural seawater. By this way, it was possible to characterize the potential dependence of the interfacial capacitance in various physicochemical conditions, without or in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). In the potential range where tin oxide is in the depletion regime (blocking interface), a capacitance excess is evidenced which can be attributed to the formation of surface states which are the signature of chemical bonding. By simulating the so-called surface state capacitance, three states have been pointed out. They are centred at 0.7, 0.9 and 1.1 eV in the tin oxide bandgap. On the basis of experimental arguments, the state at 1.1 eV was ascribed to the OH-terminated tin oxide surface, the two other states were found to be specific of the interaction of organic matter with the oxide surface. In the presence of BSA, the density of surface atoms (about 10(13) cm(-2)) involved in bonding is of the order of magnitude of the surface concentration of one BSA monolayer. The lasting character of these bonds was also shown. This finding shows the definitive protein immobilisation at the SnO2 surface. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.