催化化学对人类社会的发展和进步起着深远的影响，80 % 以上的传统化工过程都与催化作用有关。近年来随着人类对能源、环境和健康等问题的普遍关注，催化化学的作用和地位进一步获得了新的评价。因此，适当掌握一些关于催化剂及催化过程的知识是非常必要的。
催化化学是一门面向化学类专业大学学生的一门学科。其目的主要是使学生了解催化化学的基础知识以及最新发展动向，通过学习，提高学生对化学和化工领域的环境友好的意识，为今后从事研究和开发打下良好的基础。学科内容主要包括：催化作用基础、催化剂的设计、制备和表征以及各种新兴催化技术在
绿色化学、生物医药等领域的应用，如纳米技术、超临界流体技术和相转移催化等。
Catalysis Chemistry occupies an important position in the development and progress of the human society. In chemical industry, more than 80 % of conventional processes have relations with catalysis. Nowadays, it attracts increasing attentions in the pursuit of new energy, in the suppression of environmental pollution, and in the preparation of healthy medicine. Therefore, it is important to grasp some knowledge of catalysts and catalytic processes. Catalysis Chemistry is designed for fourth year university students. It aims at preparing students to learn the basic knowledge and theories in Catalysis Chemistry, upon which a good idea of environmental benign in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is built. Moreover, students will acquire a foundation for the research and development work in the future. The main content includes a brief introduction to basic catalysis, design, preparation, and characterization of catalysts, as well as the application of innovative catalytic technologies in green chemistry and biological medicines, such as nanomaterials technology, supercritical fluid technology, phase transfer catalysis and so on.