NOVELTY - Forming polymer coating on substrate surface in vacuum chamber evacuated to less than 10-2 Torr comprises heating liquid monomer below thermal polymerization temperature to form vapor, allowing vapor to flow to substrate surface, condensing vapor on substrate surface to deposit monomer layer on substrate surface, and polymerizing monomer layer to form coating.    USE - For forming polymer coating on substrate surface in vacuum chamber useful in making an anode used in electrochemical cell or battery.    ADVANTAGE - The invention provides very thin, pinhole-free polymer coatings. It is cost effective and simpler solvent-free method.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Forming polymer coating on surface of a substrate in vacuum chamber evacuated to less than 10-2 Torr comprises heating a liquid monomer to form vapor below a thermal polymerization temperature,    allowing the vapor to flow to the surface of the substrate,    condensing the vapor on the surface of the substrate to deposit a monomer layer on the substrate surface, and    polymerizing the monomer layer in the condensing step to form the polymer coating on the substrate surface.    The monomer has at least two olefinic groups per molecule, and a vapor pressure of 10-6-10-1 Torr at standard temperature and pressure (STP).    The surface of the substrate is at a temperature below the temperature of the liquid monomer or vapor.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) polymer depositing system for depositing polymer coating on substrate surface in a vacuum chamber comprising evaporation chamber (20, 21), and curing station;    (2) a polymer coated substrate comprising substrate with first exposed surface, and polymer coating on the first surface;    (3) forming two-part coating on substrate comprising sputtering a first layer on the substrate, and forming a second layer of coating by the above mentioned method;    (4) anode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising polymer film layer, protective crosslinked polymer layer, and anode active layer; and    (5) a battery comprising a casing, electrochemical cells containing cathode with cathode active material, anode, and non-aqueous electrolyte between the anode and cathode.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus used in the method.    Vacuum chamber (1)    Cooling drum (10)    Substrate (12)    Spools (14, 16)    Evaporation chamber (20, 21)    Radiation source (30, 31)    Aperture (80)