Methods and articles are disclosed in which a substrate is provided with a photo-induced hydrophilic surface by forming a photo-induced hydrophilic coating on the substrate by spray pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition, or magnetron sputter vacuum deposition. The coating can have a thickness of 50 Å to 500 Å, a root mean square roughness of less than 5, preferably less than 2, and photocatalytic activity of less than 3.0×10−3 cm−1 min−1±2.0×10−3 cm−1 min−1. The substrate includes glass substrates, including glass sheets and continuous float glass ribbons.