NOVELTY - The method comprises submersing a coated electrode material in a solution comprising a probe species dissolved in a solvent, where the probe species has a reversible electrochemical reduction and oxidation potential, applying a potential to the coated electrode material relative to a second electrode submersed in the solution, and measuring the current flowing between the coated electrode material and the second electrode. The conductive electrode material has a reduction potential outside the electrochemical window of the solvent.    USE - The method is useful for quantitatively determining the presence of pinholes in an electrically insulating coating that is electrochemically deposited on a surface of a conductive electrode material (claimed), where the coating useful for electrochemical energy storage devices such as fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and capacitors.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of quantitatively determining the presence of pinholes in the electrically insulating coating without detachment of the coating from the electrode or inducing damage to the coating.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises submersing a coated electrode material in a solution comprising a probe species dissolved in a solvent, where the probe species has a reversible electrochemical reduction and oxidation potential, applying a potential to the coated electrode material relative to a second electrode submersed in the solution, and measuring the current flowing between the coated electrode material and the second electrode. The conductive electrode material has a reduction potential outside the electrochemical window of the solvent. The probe species has a reversible electrochemical reduction potential more positive than the electrochemical reduction potential of the solvent and a reversible electrochemical oxidation potential more negative than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the electrode. The applied potential is more positive than the electrochemical reduction potential of the solvent and more negative than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the conductive electrode, and is scanned, from a potential more negative than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the conductive electrode and a potential more positive than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the probe species, to a potential more positive than the electrochemical reduction potential of the solvent and more negative than the electrochemical reduction potential of the probe species and back to a potential more negative than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the conductive electrode and more positive than the electrochemical oxidation potential of the probe species. The scan rate is 0.001-1 Vs-1. The conductive electrode material has an oxidation potential outside the electrochemical window of the solvent. The method further comprises applying the potential to the uncoated electrode material relative to the second electrode submersed in the solution, measuring the current flowing between the uncoated electrode material and the second electrode, comparing the measured current of the coated electrode material with the measured current of the uncoated electrode material at the applied potential, tethering the probe species to a larger species effective for reducing the permeation of the probe through the coating, and adding a supporting electrolyte salt to a solution for facilitating charge transport within the solution. The probe species is complexed with the larger species. The larger species comprises metal complexes, adamantanes, fullerenes, and nanoparticles. The coating comprises polyacrylonitrile-polymethyl acrylate copolymer film.