propose that these values constitute a quantitative measure of the catalytic effect of AuNRs. The difference between the virtual temperature upon irradiation and the base virtual temperature in the dark reflects the extent of the thermoplasmonic effect. Thus, we assume the collective heating of AuNRs to raise the temperature of the sample by 21°C. Certainly, more efficient electron transfer upon irradiation (due to interband excitations) cannot be entirely ruled out, however, we assume the contribution of photothermal effect to be more substantial. To confirm photothermal effect upon red-NIR irradiation, we measured the kinetics of Azo Z-E isomerization in the hybrid material under varied power density of incident light. The exponential fit of the data, in accordance with Arrhenius law (Figure ), indicates towards the dominant role of the thermoplasmonic effect. With these results, we propose a new perspective for azobenzenes as molecular thermometers to detect and quantify thermoplasmonic effect and assess temperature changes at the nanoscale. We foresee that this preliminary idea can further flourish, gaining from an immense library of various Azo derivatives, which grants the possibility of choosing molecules differing in solubility, grafting potential, and thermal stability. Hence, different types of materials and structures can be prepared, and proper resolution and sensitivity of the measurement can be asserted for specific system and application.