NOVELTY - A coated article (A1) comprises a substrate; a first coating formed over at least a portion of the substrate; and a photoactive coating formed over at least a portion of the first coating. The first coating comprises a mixture of oxides containing oxides of at least two of phosphorus, titanium, silicon, aluminum and zirconium.    USE - In photovoltaic applications; in thin film solar cells; in photocatalytic article; and in architectural applications.    ADVANTAGE - The coated article has a color i.e. aasterisk of -10 to 2 (preferably -8 to -4.4, b8 of -15 to 0 (preferably -12.6 to -5.2) and Lasterisk of 50.5 to 52.3); and decreases the surface resistivity of the transparent conductive layer to increase electron flow. The coated article using the first coating acts as a barrier to sodium ion diffusion; and enhances the performance of the coated article.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a photoactive article (A2) comprising a glass substrate, a first coating formed over at least a portion of the substrate where the first coating comprising a mixture of silica, titania and alumina, and a photoactive functional coating comprising titania formed over at least a portion of the first coating;    (2) increasing (M1) the photocatalytic activity of a photoactive coating involving providing a substrate, forming a first coating over at least a portion of the substrate where the first coating comprising oxides of at least two of phosphorus, titanium, silicon, aluminum and zirconium, and forming a photoactive coating over at least a portion of the first coating;    (3) making the photoactive article (A2) involving providing a glass substrate, forming a first coating on at least a portion of the glass substrate by chemical vapor deposition by directing a first coating composition toward the glass substrate where the first coating composition comprising tetraethylorthosilicate, titanium isopropoxide, and dimethylaluminumisopropoxide, and forming a functional coating over at least a portion of the first coating by chemical vapor deposition by directing a second coating composition toward the glass substrate where the second coating comprising titania.