Single-crystalline La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-δ nanowires/nanorods derived hydrothermally without the use of a template:: Catalysts highly active for toluene complete oxidation

Single-crystalline nanowires and nanorods of cubic perovskite-type La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta oxides have been fabricated by a hydrothermal method and characterized by a number of analytical techniques. Compared to the polycrystalline La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-delta catalyst, the single-crystalline materials exhibit much better catalytic activity for the complete oxidation of toluene. The excellent performance can be attributed to the distinct oxygen nonstoichiometry and single-crystalline structure of the materials.