A flexible photovoltaic (PV) cell having enhanced properties of mechanical impact absorption, includes: a semiconductor wafer that is freestanding and carrier-less; having a thickness, and having a first surface, and a having second surface that is opposite to that first surface; and non-transcending gaps within the semiconductor wafer. Each non-transcending gap penetrates from the first surface towards the second surface, but reaches to a depth of between 50 to 99 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer, and does not reach said second surface. Each non-transcending gap does not entirely penetrate through an entirety of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer maintains between 1 to 50 percent of the thickness of the semiconductor wafer as an intact and non-penetrated thin layer of semiconductor wafer that remains intact and non-penetrated by the non-transcending gaps. The non-transcending gaps in the semiconductor wafer are filled with an elastomer, and they absorb and dissipate mechanical forces.