Through the interplay of high-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging/manipulation and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we have demonstrated that an unprecedented selective aryl–aryl coupling via direct C–H bond activation can be successfully achieved on Cu(110). These findings present a simple and generalized route for preparing low dimensional carbon nanomaterials.

Through a careful design of the molecular precursor we have successfully constructed the metal–organic Sierpiński triangles on Au(111) via on-surface coordination chemistry, which is demonstrated by the interplay of high-resolution STM imaging and DFT calculations. The coordination Sierpiński triangles show high stabilities as evidenced by room temperature STM imaging, and could withstand a thermal treatment up to 450 K.