In a process for producing a semiconductor chip, a functional semiconductor layer sequence (2) is grown epitaxially on a growth substrate (1). Then, a separating zone (4), which lies parallel to a main surface (8) of the growth substrate (1), is formed in the growth substrate (1) by ion implantation, the ion implantation taking place through the functional semiconductor layer sequence (2). Then, a handle substrate (6) is applied to the functional semiconductor layer sequence (2), and a part of the growth substrate (1) which is remote from the handle substrate (6) as seen from the separating zone (4), is detached along the separating zone (4).