Layered double hydroxide-derived Ni-Cu nanoalloy catalysts for semi-hydrogenation of alkynes: Improvement of selectivity and anti-coking ability via alloying of Ni and Cu

•Quaternary NiCuMgAl-LDH is used as precursor to fabricate NiCu nanoalloy catalyst.•NiCu nanoalloy with high dispersion exhibits stronger geometric and electronic effects.•Enhanced selectivity (>70%) was achieved at 100% conversion in semi-hydrogenation of acetylene.•Anti-coking ability is ascribed to the destruction of continuous of Ni sites.•Excellent properties were also found in various liquid phase semi-hydrogenation of alkynes.