In view of the activated carbon pore-forming mechanism, the fractal hypothesis of pore interior growth was proposed by optimizing the structure of Sierpinski sponge. Based on the hypothesis and the definition of fractal dimension, the function relationship between the reaction degree, reaction step length, specific surface area and pore volume was deduced, and the pore fractal growth model of activated carbon activation process was established. Semi-coke, apple charcoal and lychee charcoal were used to prepare activated carbon. The pore size distributions of the activated carbons are in accordance with the fractal growth hypothesis. Further, the reaction degree and reaction step length can be determined by the experimental data of pore and surface structure, which verified the feasibility of the pore fractal growth model.

Tourism and hospitality service providers have been seeking ways to engage customers into the value creation process to deliver personalized customer experience. Rapid development of information communication technology has facilitated such practice by providing various computer-based or mobile platforms. While online platforms such as social network sites and online communities have received most research attention, mobile instant messaging (IM) remains under-researched in spite of its unique potential for firm-customer interaction and communication. Based on service-dominant logic (Vargo & Lusch, 2004) and computer-mediated communication theories (Walther, 1996), this study examines (1) the factors influencing customers’ perceived co-creation experience facilitated by mobile IM, and (2) customers’ perceived value of personalization results from such experience in the tourism and hospitality context. Data was collected via online survey targeting Chinese users and was analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results found significant positive effects of users’ perceived social presence, perceived media richness and prior experiences on their co-creation experience. The significant positive relationships between customers’ co-creation experience and perceived personalization of the service offering validate the unique potential of mobile IM to engage customers into value co-creation with tourism and hospitality service providers. The findings extend the theoretical framework of value cocreation to a context mediated by mobile IM. Managerial suggestions are provided for tourism and hospitality companies to engage with customers using mobile IM.