The catalytic effect of AuNRs manifests upon the addition of pre-composite in the dark due to the electron transfer. Upon irradiation thermoplasmonic effect boosts thermal back-isomerization of AzoGly by two orders of magnitude. c) Rate constants describing AzoGly Z-E isomerization in the presence of Au can be recalculated into virtual temperatures of the process, and hence, the extent of the thermoplasmonic effect can be estimated. d) Data collection for hybrid materials in water We propose looking at this data through the lens of a photochrome and translating the determined rate constants into 'virtual temperatures' of the process, meaning temperatures in which equivalent Azo Z-E isomerization in the dark and without Au would occur at the same rate. Virtual temperatures can be assessed by comparing AzoGly isomerization rate constants in the presence of AuNRs (kZ-E,Au dark and kZ-E,Au light , Figure ) with Arrhenius plot for a free photochrome (Figure ;