A　visible　light　responsive　photocatalytic　hybrid　with　excellent　photoelectrochemical　activity　was　first　fabricated　via　the　self-assembly　of　Au　nanorods　onto　poly(l-cysteine)　modified　graphitic　carbon　nitride　nanosheets.　Herein,　layered　structural　graphitic　carbon　nitride　nanosheets　with　a　proper　band　gap,　high　stability,　and　nontoxicity,　as　a　photoactive　material,　demonstrate　a　high　photocatalytic　activity.　Furthermore,　the　incorporation　of　multifunctional　Au　nanorods　gave　the　hybrid　a　Schottky　barrier　and　localized　surface　plasmonic　resonance,　which　considerably　enhanced　the　separation　of　the　photo-excited　electrons　and　holes,　resulting　in　increased　photoelectrochemical　performance.　As　a　proof　of　concept,　mercapto-beta-cyclodextrin　as　a　bionic　recognition　device　was　introduced　into　the　hybrid　to　selectively　detect　naringin　on　the　basis　of　the　dramatic　decreasing　of　photocurrent.　The　visible-light　driven　photoelectrochemical　sensor　exhibited　excellent　analytical　performance,　including　high　sensitivity,　good　selectivity　and　wide　linear　range　from　1　×　10-4　to　1　×　10-10　M.　©　2015　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.