In a method for coating a shear-thinning cathode material having a high viscosity on a substrate, the substrate is drawn through a nip defined by a rotating backing roller and a notched bar disposed at a distance from the backing roller. The notched bar is convexly curved in shape in a region prior to the nip and is formed with a notch extending in from the curved region of the notched bar at the nip. The cathode material is supplied onto a first surface of the substrate, the first surface facing the notched bar. At least a portion of the first surface of the substrate is coated with a uniform thickness layer of the cathode material by applying steadily increasing shear forces to the supplied cathode material as the cathode material on the substrate is drawn into the nip and contacts the curved region of the notched bar. The cathode material layer is removed from contact with the notched bar by drawing the cathode material layer coated on the substrate past the notch in the notched bar.