Computers could be set for massively increased capacity thanks to the use of palladium at a nanoscale.

The new technology was unveiled at the Materials Research Society in Boston, where Bruce Terris from the Hitachi San Jose Research Centre described a process that could ultimately yield a new era in computing power.

Under the technique outlined, cobalt-palladium nanoscale islands would be placed in silicon dioxide to enable them to carry a greater magnetic media density.

Experts say that this technique has the potential to circumnavigate the notion of a theoretical physical limit to the efficacy of such machines.

Previously experts had identified an ultimate point at which processing power was limited to around 100 Gbits per square inch - however, under the new process it may possible to carry as much as a terabit per square-inch.

The process was developed in a joint project with researchers at nearby IBM Almaden Research Centre.