Abstract: The invention is directed to an article made by the steps comprising providing either a plastic or glass substrate member, pre-heating the substrate member, providing a first liquid sol comprising water, methanol, and nanoparticulate SiO2, coating the pretreated substrate member with a barrier layer of the first liquid sol, evaporating the water and methanol from the barrier layer at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to evaporate the water and methanol and insufficient to significantly thermally sinter the nanoparticulate SiO2, providing a second liquid sol comprising water, methanol, nanoparticulate TiO2, coating the barrier-coated substrate member with a top layer of the second liquid sol, and, evaporating the water and methanol from the top layer at a temperature and for a duration sufficient to evaporate the water and methanol and insufficient to significantly thermally sinter the nanoparticulate SiO2 and TiO2 to produce barrier and top coated substrate member.