Ab-initio calculation of C and CO adsorption on the Co (110) surface

► Mechanism for the spin-reorientation transition in fcc Co (110) thin films. ► Anisotropic chemical bonding of C and CO on fcc Co (110) thin films. ► Adsorption sites for C and CO on fcc Co (110) thin films. ► Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of C/Co(110) and CO/Co(110).