An initial single-crystal substrate 1 having, locally and on the surface, at least one discontinuity in the single-crystal lattice is formed. The initial substrate is recessed at the discontinuity. The single-crystal lattice is amorphized around the periphery ofthe recess. A layer ofamorphous material having the same chemical composition as that ofthe initial substrate is deposited on the structure obtained. The structure obtained is thermally annealed in order to recrystallize the amorphous material so as to be continuous with the single-crystal lattice ofthe initial substrate.