Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenues
Product sales	$ 4,619	$ 3,543	$ 945
Less: Sales returns			(184)
License fees	240		750
Commercial collaborations	80	364	1,410
Contracts and grants	287	3,923	1,450
Total revenues	5,226	7,830	4,371
Cost of goods sold
Product	5,149	2,663	954
Commercial collaborations	73	194	781
Contracts and grants	296	2,534	1,120
Warranty and inventory reserves	279	409	198
Total cost of goods sold	5,797	5,800	3,053
Gross (loss) profit	(571)	2,030	1,318
Operating expenses
Research and development	6,960	8,212	9,389
Sales and marketing	3,603	4,051	2,894
General and administrative	7,669	7,553	7,798
Depreciation and amortization	1,324	1,896	2,035
Loss on disposal of assets	924	770
Total operating expenses	20,480	22,482	22,116
Loss from operations	(21,051)	(20,452)	(20,798)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(156)	(19)	(107)
Interest income		101	188
Realized (loss)/gain on investment		(2,045)	851
Realized gain on warrant liabilities	1,274
Total other income (expense), net	1,118	(1,963)	932
Loss from continuing operations	(19,933)	(22,415)	(19,866)
Gain/(loss) from discontinued operations		124	(2,065)
Net loss	(19,933)	(22,291)	(21,931)
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest		5	619
Net loss attributable to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.	(19,933)	(22,286)	(21,312)
Net loss attributable to Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. stockholders:
Loss from continuing operations	(19,933)	(22,415)	(19,866)
Gain/(loss) from discontinued operations		129	(1,446)
Net loss	$ (19,933)	$ (22,286)	$ (21,312)
Basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.84)	$ (0.79)
Loss from discontinued operations (in Dollars per share)			$ (0.06)
Loss per common share - Basic and diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.84)	$ (0.85)
Weighted average shares - basic and diluted (in Shares)	46,889,741	26,550,288	25,044,432