Nickel-tetraaminophthalocyanine [TAPcNi] was electropolymerized from the complex monomeric solution, onto carbon steel substrates, yielding thin adherent films of poly[TAPcNi]. The investigation of such polymer-modified electrodes was carried out by means of cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry. The preparation of TAPcNi modified electrode was also carried out by electropolymerization of a preformed molecular film of TAPcNi, after applying a drop of TAPcNi dimethylsulphoxide solution onto carbon steel, and allowing it to dry. The comparison of the corrosion behavior of the two types of polymer-coated electrodes was carried out by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in acid medium. It was found that the structure and morphology of each polymer greatly influence their redox behavior and corrosion inhibition performance for steel in hydrochloric acid. The film prepared by the drop-dry method offered a better corrosion protective efficiency while the electropolymerized film presented a more conductive behavior. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.