Intermolecular (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Nov. 18, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc.	Jul. 28, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. board_members	Nov. 15, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Cost Method Investee	Jun. 30, 2013 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc.	Dec. 31, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc.	Dec. 31, 2013 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc.	Nov. 18, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc.	Dec. 31, 2013 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc. Notes Receivable	Dec. 31, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc. Cost Method Investee Notes Receivable	Nov. 18, 2011 Symyx Technologies, Inc. Intermolecular Inc. Cost Method Investee Notes Receivable	Jul. 28, 2011 Common Stock Symyx Technologies, Inc.
Schedule of Cost-method Investments [Line Items]
Intermolecular, Inc. stock held by Symyx Technologies, Inc.																						3,968,204
Stock split conversion ratio														0.5
Intermolecular, Inc. board members appointed by Symyx Technologies, Inc.													1
Gross proceeds from sale of IM shares																					$ 67,000,000
Reimbursement to Symex Technologies, Inc. for underwriting discount and commission payable related to sale of Intermolecular, Inc. stock, percentage													50.00%
Shares of Intermolecular, Inc. stock sold by Symyx Technologies, Inc.												3,968,204
Cost method investment												$ 10.00
Aggregate proceeds from sale shares of IM stock																39,700,000
Sale of Intermolecular, Inc. stock, transaction costs																1,400,000
Net gain on sale of cost method investment					18,970,000	0	0	0	0	0	18,970,000					19,000,000
Consulting costs related to Intermolecular, Inc.																1,000,000
IM Note																					27,300,000
Contractual term of promissory note receivable from Intermolecular, Inc.																			24 months
Promissory note receivable, interest rate																		4.00%
Minimum quarterly installments on promissory note receivable from Intermolecular, Inc.																	500,000
Promissory note receivable, fair value																		26,000,000
Net gain on sale of intellectual property	$ 0	$ 0	$ 25,821,000	$ 74,000					$ 25,895,000	$ 0	$ 0				$ 25,900,000					$ 4,300,000
Market interest rate for comparable instruments																		6.89%