Porous　Co3O4　nanowires　and　nanorods　(Co3O4-HT,　Co3O4-HT-PEG,　Co3O4-HT-CTAB,　and　Co3O4-ME-CTAB,　respectively)　have　been　fabricated　via　the　hydrothermal　or　microemulsion　route　in　the　absence　and　presence　of　polyethylene　glycol　(PEG)　or　cetyltrimethylammonium　bromide　(CTAB),　respectively.　Physicochemical　properties　of　the　materials　were　characterized　by　means　of　numerous　techniques,　and　their　catalytic　activities　for　toluene　combustion　were　evaluated.　It　is　shown　that　Co3O4-HT-PEG　and　Co3O4-HT-CTAB　displayed　a　porous　nanowire-like　morphology,　whereas　Co3O4-ME-CTAB　exhibited　a　porous　nanorod-like　shape.　The　porous　Co3O4　samples　(surface　area　=　47-52　m(2)/g)　possessed　much　higher　surface　oxygen　adspecies　concentrations　and　much　better　low-temperature　reducibility　than　the　nonporous　counterpart.　The　Co3O4-HT-CTAB　sample　showed　the　highest　catalytic　performance　(T-50%　=　195　and　T-90%　=　215　degrees　C　at　a　space　velocity　of　20,000　mL/(g　h)).　It　is　concluded　that　the　excellent　catalytic　performance　of　Co3O4-HT-CTAB　was　associated　with　its　higher　surface　area　and　surface　oxygen　species　concentration,　and　better　low-temperature　reducibility.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.