An article comprising: a metallic substrate; and a tri-layer thermal barrier coating deposited on the metallic substrate, the tri-layer thermal barrier coating consisting of an inner ceramic layer, and an outermost ceramic layer relative to the metallic substrate, and an intermediate ceramic layer between the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer, the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer being respectively composed of first and second ceramic materials and the intermediate ceramic layer being composed of a third, different ceramic material having a lower thermal conductivity relative to the ceramic materials of the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer, the inner ceramic layer having a first thickness, the outermost ceramic layer having a second thickness, and the intermediate ceramic layer having a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness and the second thickness, characterized in that a ratio of the third thickness to a combined thickness of the first thickness and the second thickness is 1-4; and in that: each of the first ceramic material and the second ceramic material are selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds and hafnia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds or hafnia solid solutions or compounds, wherein the zirconia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material or the hafnia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material include lanthanide elements, scandium, indium, yttrium, molybdenum, carbon, magnesium, rare earth oxides, and combinations thereof; or the first and second ceramic materials are yttria-zirconia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of a gadolinia-zirconia solid solution or compound, gadolinium zirconate, hafnium zirconate, and combinations thereof. a metallic substrate; and a tri-layer thermal barrier coating deposited on the metallic substrate, the tri-layer thermal barrier coating consisting of an inner ceramic layer, and an outermost ceramic layer relative to the metallic substrate, and an intermediate ceramic layer between the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer, the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer being respectively composed of first and second ceramic materials and the intermediate ceramic layer being composed of a third, different ceramic material having a lower thermal conductivity relative to the ceramic materials of the inner ceramic layer and the outermost ceramic layer, the inner ceramic layer having a first thickness, the outermost ceramic layer having a second thickness, and the intermediate ceramic layer having a third thickness that is greater than the first thickness and the second thickness, characterized in that a ratio of the third thickness to a combined thickness of the first thickness and the second thickness is 1-4; and in that: each of the first ceramic material and the second ceramic material are selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds and hafnia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds or hafnia solid solutions or compounds, wherein the zirconia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material or the hafnia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material include lanthanide elements, scandium, indium, yttrium, molybdenum, carbon, magnesium, rare earth oxides, and combinations thereof; or the first and second ceramic materials are yttria-zirconia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of a gadolinia-zirconia solid solution or compound, gadolinium zirconate, hafnium zirconate, and combinations thereof. each of the first ceramic material and the second ceramic material are selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds and hafnia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of zirconia solid solutions or compounds or hafnia solid solutions or compounds, wherein the zirconia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material or the hafnia solid solutions or compounds of the third ceramic material include lanthanide elements, scandium, indium, yttrium, molybdenum, carbon, magnesium, rare earth oxides, and combinations thereof; or the first and second ceramic materials are yttria-zirconia solid solutions or compounds, and the third ceramic material is selected from a group consisting of a gadolinia-zirconia solid solution or compound, gadolinium zirconate, hafnium zirconate, and combinations thereof.