Platinum-nickel catalyst: The effect of promoters in cis-oleic acid adsorption

► CO adsorption is more favored than CC adsorption on the PtNi(1 1 1) surface. ► The adsorption of the olefinic bond is strengthened by K, Mg, Co, B or Pd promoters. ► The energy of the system and the CC/surface distances decrease using promoters. ► The molecule-surface interaction is favored by electron density exchange. ► Co promoter shows better adsorption properties than K, Mg, B or Pd.