a primary electrochemical cell is described in which a novel granular cathode material is utilized . the cathode is formed from about 40 to 99 weight percent of carbon black , at least 1 weight percent of a binder which is inert in the primary electrochemical cell and the remainder thereof is graphite . the cathode material may be formed by mixing the individual components together with a quantity of a suitable liquid to form a uniform slurry . the slurry is then dried at room temperature to remove the liquid . the dried mixture is crumbled into fine particles . the particles are cured at an elevated temperature to stablize the binder . the resulting material when utilized as the cathode material of a primary electrochemical cell provides a porous carbon structure of high surface area in which a network of large channels exists for continual diffusion of electrolytic solution to the carbon cathodic particles throughout the entire volume of the cell cathode regardless of the cell size .