A thermal barrier coating composition comprising 46–97 molar percent base oxide, 2–25 molar percent primary stabilizer, 0.5–25 molar percent group A dopant. and 0.5–25 molar percent group B dopant, said base oxide being selected from the group consisting of ZrO2, HfO2 and combinations thereot said primary stabilizer being selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, Dy2O3, Er2O3 and combinations thereof, said group B dopant being selected from the group consisting of Nd2O3, Sm3O3, Gd2O3, Eu2O3 and combinations thereof, and said group A dopant being selected from the group consisting of rare earth oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides, transition metal oxides and combinations thereof, but excluding those species contained in said base oxide, group B dopant and primary stabilizer groups,
- wherein the ratio of the molar percentages of group A dopant to group B dopant in said composition is between about 1:10 end about 10:1.