Thermal activation and reaction of allyl alcohol on Ni(100)

► The surface chemistry of allyl alcohol on Ni(100) was studied by TPD and XPS. ► The activation of both the OH bond and the C=C bond was observed in the experiments. ► Propylene is produced by the CO bond activation in the allyloxy intermediate. ► The co-adsorption of hydrogen atoms increases the production of 1-propanol. ► The co-adsorption of oxygen atoms increases the yields of both 1-propanol and propanal.