Fullerene can activate molecular hydrogen and is a novel nonmetal hydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds to amino aromatics is achieved on this catalyst with high conversion and selectivity under 1 atmospheric pressure of H, and light irradiation at room temperature or under conditions of 120-160 degrees C and 4-5 MPa H-2 pressure without tight irradiation, which is comparable to the case with a noble metal catalyst.