Synthesis and inhibitory effect of N,N'-bis(1-phenylethanol)ethylenediamine against steel corrosion in HCl Media

•Inhibition efficiency of newly synthesized organic molecule was investigated.•Tafel plots and solution assay analysis data were evaluated with comparison.•High inhibition efficiency under accelerated temperature.•Solution assay analysis, electrochemical techniques, spectroscopy and microscopy studies were conducted. A new organic compound N,N'-bis(1-phenylethanol)ethylenediamine was synthesized and its inhibition efficiency was studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic measurement, as well as solution assay analysis. The influences of temperature and inhibitor concentration were investigated for explaining the inhibition mechanism. It was shown that both physical and chemical type adsorptive interactions occur via π-bonding electrons, NH and OH groups. Besides, SEM, UV–visible and FTIR analyses were carried out to investigate the structure of protective layer formed on the steel surface.