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.