The second-order Jahn-Teller distortion (SOJT-D) is predominantly observed in the MO 6 octahedra of Aurivillius metal oxides such as Bi 2 MoO 6 and Bi 2 WO 6 , due to the presence of both transition metal Mo 6+ (or W 6+ ) and Bi 3+ lone-pair cations. This effect leads to intraoctahedral distortion as the consequence of the mixing of empty d-orbitals and completely filled p-orbitals of the ligands that may affect the efficiency of photocatalysts. Herein, photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting performance of second-order Jahn-Teller distorted Bi 2 MoO 6 , Bi 2 WO 6 , and Bi 2 Mo 1−x W x O 6 solid solutions is investigated by the combined experimental and first-principles approach. Our theoretical study reveals that the SOJT-D parameter is monotonically decreased with increasing x value of Bi 2 Mo 1−x W x O 6 solid solutions, and this trend is well correlated with Raman analysis. The Bi 2 Mo 1−x W x O 6 (0 < x < 1) solid solutions show higher PEC activity as compared to both pristine materials, as experienced from our study that the Bi 2 Mo 0.9 W 0.1 O 6 photoanode delivered maximum efficiency, which is ∼4 and ∼17-fold higher than that of Bi 2 MoO 6 and Bi 2 WO 6 , respectively. In the presence of both Mo and W cations, the recombination center of photoinduced charge carriers is suppressed due to their different conduction band levels and spatially separated, resulting in enhanced PEC water splitting activity in the solid solutions. KEYWORDS: second-order Jahn-Teller distortion, Bi 2 Mo 1−x W x O 6 solid solution, photogenerated electrons, conduction band edge, photoelectrocatalysis