Abstract
Developing effective, durable photoelectrode materials remains a key challenge in advancing solar-driven water oxidation for oxygen production. This research involved synthesizing MnZnO 3 -CdO heterostructure thin films via aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition to enhance the photoelectrochemical activity of the oxygen evolution reaction. Structural characterization showed well-defined diffraction peaks of both MnZnO 3 and CdO phases, which confirms the formation of a crystalline heterostructure. Surface and chemical analysis revealed homogeneous elemental distribution and constant oxidation states, whereas optical measurements provided a direct bandgap of about 1.8 eV, allowing effective absorption of visible light. Morphological studies confirmed improved surface coverage and compactness with increased deposition time, contributing to enhanced charge separation and reduced recombination. The optimized electrode with simulated solar light had achieved a photocurrent density of 1.06 mA cm −2 at 1.6 V vs RHE and a stable performance of 0.32 mAcm −2 after 16 h of continuous operation. These findings indicate that MnZnO 3 and CdO interact synergistically to exhibit its potential to be an effective photoanode in efficient and stable solar water splitting.