The overall yield of a splitting method for division of a solid-state starting material into at least two solid-state pieces is increased by use of a polymer hybrid material comprising one or more fillers in a polymer matrix. A corresponding splitting method comprises the steps of providing the solid-state starting material with at least one exposed surface, applying a polymer hybrid material comprising fillers in a polymer matrix to at least one exposed surface of the solid-state starting material, so as to result in a composite structure, and subjecting the composite structure to a stress field such that the solid-state starting material is split along a plane within the solid-state starting material into at least two solid-state pieces.