A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium or lithium alloy and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) or a mixture of iron disulfide (FeS2) and iron sulfide (FeS) and conductive carbon particles. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising the FeS2 or FeS2 plus FeS powder, conductive carbon, binder, and a solvent. The binder is preferably a styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer. There is an advantage discovered in utilizing a hydronaphthalene solvent to form the cathode slurry. The preferred solvent is 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene or decahydronaphthalene and mixtures thereof. The slurry mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and the solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. Higher drying temperature may be used resulting in a dry cathode coating which resists cracking. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.