As a first step toward the rational design of Co-based catalysts with a higher activity and selectivity, we determine how one can activate a C-O bond at the interface between a metal oxide cluster and a Co(0001) support. The hypothesis here is that the metal ions in metal oxide clusters on a Co(0001) support enhance the adsorption of CO and weaken the C-O bond strength, which can then facilitate the dissociation of the CO reactant. To test this hypothesis, we developed three computational models of Ti 4 O 8 /Co(0001), Zr 4 O 8 /Co(0001), and Mn 8 O 8 /Co(0001). We quantify the CO adsorption behavior at the interface sites between an oxide cluster and the Co(0001) support as well as the corresponding IR spectra. We correlate the computed CO stretch frequencies with their CO adsorption energies, as well as the CO stretch frequency with the C-O bond length. The interface is the most favorable site for CO adsorption. Adsorption results in an increase of the C-O bond length and a decrease in its vibrational frequency.