The surface characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae before and after Ag(I) biosorption were investigated by comprehensively using the scanning electron microscopy with the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), the transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (TEM-EDX) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that cell surface elements, surface topography and three-dimensional structures of S. cerevisiae changed after Ag(I) biosorption. SEM observation indicated that the appearances of Ag-adsorbed cells varied with initial Ag(I) concentration and contact time. TEM images observed Ag(I)-containing precipitates. AFM observation indicated that cells became smaller, and cell surface became smoother. The results of SEM-EDX, TEM-EDX, AFM and biosorption illustrated that Ag(I) was adsorbed onto the cell surface by covalent binding and ionic binding. P-, S- and O-containing groups on cell surface possibly contributed to the binding silver ions, and the N-containing components released from cells also probably contributed to Ag(I) biosorption. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.