TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: In electrochemically depositing the ionically conducting, electrically insulating coating onto the surface of the electrode material, the electric potential effective for reduction of the initiator species on the surface of the electrode material is more positive than the electrochemical reduction potential of the solvent and more negative than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the electrode material. The method further involves the step of measuring the current flowing in the solution between the electrode material and the second electrode resulting from the applied electric potential, and extinguishing the applied electric potential when the current asymptotically reaches a non-zero steady state value. The initiator species when reduced is covalently bonded to the surface of the electrode material. The coating is covalently bonded to the electrode material. The electrode material comprises copper antimonide (Cu2Sb). The solvent comprises water. The initiator species comprises a diazonium species, where the diazonium species is selected from 4-methoxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, 4-nitrobenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate, 4-poly(ethylene glycol)benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate, 2-poly(ethylene glycol)benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate, lithium(4- (sulfonato)benzenediazonium)tetrafluoroborate, and lithium(2- (sulfonato)benzenediazonium)tetrafluoroborate. The coating comprises a copolymer. The monomeric species is chosen from acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, acrylic acid, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate, and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate. The monomeric species comprises an ionic salt having lithium (Li+) as the cation. The ionic salt comprises an anion portion chosen from sulfonate groups and carboxy groups. The ionic salt is chosen from lithium sulfopropylacrylate and lithium perfluoro-2-(2-sulfoethoxy) propyl vinyl ether. The anionic portion of the monomeric ionic salt is covalently bonded to the vinyl group, or vinyl group derivative, by a tethering group having a chosen length. The tethering group is chosen from polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene oxide, polypropylene glycol, and alkanes, and fluorinated versions having chosen lengths. The length of the tethering group is chosen to permit free motion of Li+ ions through the coating, while preserving the solubility of the ionic monomer in the solvent. The coating is effective for transporting Li+ ions through it. The method also involves crosslinking the monomeric species, where the step of crosslinking the monomeric species is achieved by adding at least one crosslinking monomer to the solution. The crosslinking monomer is chosen from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate and bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate. The initiator comprises an organic halide, where the organic halide comprises bromoisobutyronitrile. The method as well involves the step of contacting the coating with a solution containing a lithium salt. The lithium salt is chosen from lithium perchlorate, lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide, and lithium trifluoromethanesulfanate. The lithium salt is dissolved in water or acetonitrile. Moreover, the method involves: preparing a solution- based slurry comprising at least one cathode material; contacting the coating with the slurry; drying the coating material onto which the cathode material has been deposited; and placing an electrode in electrical communication with the cathode material. The cathode material is chosen from lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMnO2), lithium nickel manganese oxide (LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4), and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (LiNi0.4Co0.2Mn1.4O4). The slurry further comprises at least one polymer binder, where the polymer binder is chosen from polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene oxide, polypropylene glycol, and alcohol-based polymers, and copolymers. The slurry further comprises at least one lithium-containing salt, where the lithium-containing salt is chosen from lithium perchlorate, lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonamide, and lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate. The lithium salt is dissolved in water or acetonitrile. The slurry also comprises at least one lithium-ion conducting glass ceramic. The method further involves the steps of: placing the electrode material in electrical contact with a third electrode; submersing the third electrode in the solution before the step of submersing the electrode material into the solution, and before the step of applying an electric potential between the electrode material and the second electrode; and applying an electric potential between the electrode material and the second electrode before the step of submersing the electrode material into the solution. It as well involves the step of adding a supporting electrolyte salt to the solution for facilitating charge transport within the solution, where the electrolyte salt is not reactive within the electrochemical oxidation potential and electrochemical reduction potential of the solution solvent. Producing the lithium-ion battery further involves: placing the electrode material in electrical contact with a third electrode; submersing the third electrode in the solution before the step of submersing the electrode material into the solution, and before the step of applying an electric potential between the electrode material and the second electrode; and applying an electric potential between the electrode material and the second electrode before the step of submersing the electrode material into the solution.