Method for cutting a block of material and forming a thin film

A process for cutting out a block of material, comprising:

• introducing ions in said block thereby forming an embrittled zone and defining at least one superficial part of the block,
• performing a thermal treatment to increase an embrittlement of the embrittled zone after said introducing,
• forming at least one separation initiator at a level of the embrittled zone after said performing, by implanting ions of an ionic species different from that introduced during said introducing,
• placing the at least one superficial part of the block in contact with a stiffener, and
• separating, at the level of the embrittled zone, the superficial part of the block from a remaining part of the block, from the separation initiator, wherein said separating comprises at least one of a thermal treatment and an application of mechanical forces acting between the superficial part and the embrittled zone.