Abstract: A coating structure including an outer coating comprising aluminum; and an interlayer disposed between a substrate and the outer coating is provided. The interlayer may include a rare earth metal, a transition metal, or a noble metal. The interlayer may have one or more property of being less responsive to halogen etching relative to the outer coating; having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate and less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the outer coating or vice versa; having a color different from the color of the outer coating; having a electrical conductivity different from the electrical conductivity of the outer coating. A method of making is article is provided. The method may include securing an interlayer to a substrate surface, and securing an outer coating to a surface of the interlayer opposite the substrate.