The magnetic Co3O4 nanowires were synthesized using the templates of SBA-15, and then the well-dispersed nanowires (D-wires) were separated from the bundled ordered nanowires (B-wires) with the centrifugal technique. TEM images indicated that D-wires were highly dispersed Co3O4 nanowires and B-wires existed in bundles. All samples possessed the antiferromagnetism and superparamagnetism at high temperature. After revealing the intrinsic magnetic properties of Co3O4 nanowires with D-wires, the magnetic behavior of B-wires was discussed in detail, and then the magnetic interaction between neighboring nanowires could be deduced. The exchange bias effect from the body Co3O4 antiferromagnetism and surface ferromagnetism was observed at low temperature. The magnetization of B-wires was higher than that of D-wires, which was attributed to the constraint of the surface spin coupling between the neighboring nanowires to the surface affect of nanostructures. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.