The role of the electrostatic interaction in shifting the vibrational frequencies for two adsorbed molecules

We use a simple model to compute the shift of the vibrational frequencies of two adsorbed molecules as a function of inter-molecular distance, and various molecular and metal parameters. We assume that the atoms posses static and dynamic charges and the molecule has an electronic polarizability. The chemical bonds are described by Morse potentials. The electrostatic interactions are computed by a density functional method. We conclude that the use of vibrating point dipoles and of the image theorem in such calculations is an oversimplification.