PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL HAVING A COUPLED EXPANDED METAL ARTICLE

In embodiments, a photovoltaic cell has an expanded metal article configured as a mesh, a semiconductor material, and a front metallic article. The expanded metal article has a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings, and has a plurality of cuts in the mesh. The expanded metal article is electrically coupled to a back surface of the semiconductor material. The front metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled to a front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged on the photovoltaic cell to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.