Enhanced direct deoxygenation of anisole to benzene on SiO2-supported Ni-Ga alloy and intermetallic compound

•Ga geometrically and electronically modify Ni in Ni-Ga alloy and IMC.•Direct deoxygenation (DDO) was more preferential on Ni-Ga alloy and IMC than Ni.•Benzene hydrogenation, CC cleavage and methanation was suppressed on alloy and IMC.•H2 was generated from anisole via methanol decomposition on Ni-Ga alloy and IMC.•There was a synergetic effect between Ni and Ga on alloy and IMC for HDO.