In this study, the film cathode for thermal batteries with wonderful reproducibility and homogeneity is fabricated and investigated. The film cathode is prepared by screen printing process. A single cell with a 50 mu m film cathode using screen printing process exhibited a specific capacity of 2092.61 As g(-1). For comparison, a single cell with a 600 mm pellet cathode is also discharged, demonstrating a specific capacity of 1076.65 As g(-1). These significant improvements can be attributed to the optimal thickness of cathode. The film cathode also exhibited excellent utilization of the electrode material and excellent mechanical strength making it applicable to thermal batteries. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.