Note 12 - Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 12. Subsequent Events Progress in China On April 19, 2012, our subsidiary Altair Nanotechnologies (China) Co., Ltd. ("Altair China") entered into an Agreement (the “Agreement") with Wu'an Municipal People's Government ("Wu'an") and Handan Municipal People's Government ("Handan") regarding the establishment by Altair China of a manufacturing facility in the City of Wu'an, in Hebei Province in China. The Agreement provides the framework for Altair China's location of an up to 3,000 ton per annum lithium titanate oxide (LTO) manufacturing facility in a newly formed technology park in Wu'an, anticipates the future expansion of such facility based on market demand and the establishment of an energy storage system production line. To provide incentives for Altair China to locate in Wu'an, the government of Wu'an has agreed, subject to tender, auction and listing procedures that may be required by law, to make approximately 330 acres of commercial land available to Altair China free of rent or land transfer fees for a 50 year commercial term and, subject to certain limitations and procedures, to provide tax incentives to Altair China. The Agreement anticipates that Altair China will establish a presence in Wu'an immediately, the land use rights being granted in summer of 2012 and the first phase of Altair China's manufacturing facility being completed in late 2013. The Agreement contemplates the purchase by Wu'an and Handan of electric buses beginning in late 2012 and continuing over a period of years, and the future purchase of electric taxis and energy storage systems. The Agreement also contemplates the adoption of laws and policies regulations facilitating or supporting the use of battery energy storage systems to support wind power projects, multi-tenant residential constructions and other initiatives, as well as various tax and loan-related incentives. The Agreement contemplates the negotiation of additional terms and conditions related to the land use grant, the product purchases and the other support initiatives, including purchase price with respect to many of the electric vehicles, the energy storage systems and related matters. In addition, the purchases and support initiatives are generally subject to procedural and substantive limitations imposed by federal Chinese law that may limit the ability the respective governmental entity to implement such purchases and initiatives.

Note 12 - Subsequent Events

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Note 12. Subsequent Events

Progress in China

On April 19, 2012, our subsidiary Altair Nanotechnologies (China) Co., Ltd. ("Altair China") entered into an Agreement (the “Agreement") with Wu'an Municipal People's Government ("Wu'an") and Handan Municipal People's Government ("Handan") regarding the establishment by Altair China of a manufacturing facility in the City of Wu'an, in Hebei Province in China.

The Agreement provides the framework for Altair China's location of an up to 3,000 ton per annum lithium titanate oxide (LTO) manufacturing facility in a newly formed technology park in Wu'an, anticipates the future expansion of such facility based on market demand and the establishment of an energy storage system production line.

To provide incentives for Altair China to locate in Wu'an, the government of Wu'an has agreed, subject to tender, auction and listing procedures that may be required by law, to make approximately 330 acres of commercial land available to Altair China free of rent or land transfer fees for a 50 year commercial term and, subject to certain limitations and procedures, to provide tax incentives to Altair China. The Agreement anticipates that Altair China will establish a presence in Wu'an immediately, the land use rights being granted in summer of 2012 and the first phase of Altair China's manufacturing facility being completed in late 2013.

The Agreement contemplates the purchase by Wu'an and Handan of electric buses beginning in late 2012 and continuing over a period of years, and the future purchase of electric taxis and energy storage systems. The Agreement also contemplates the adoption of laws and policies regulations facilitating or supporting the use of battery energy storage systems to support wind power projects, multi-tenant residential constructions and other initiatives, as well as various tax and loan-related incentives.

The Agreement contemplates the negotiation of additional terms and conditions related to the land use grant, the product purchases and the other support initiatives, including purchase price with respect to many of the electric vehicles, the energy storage systems and related matters. In addition, the purchases and support initiatives are generally subject to procedural and substantive limitations imposed by federal Chinese law that may limit the ability the respective governmental entity to implement such purchases and initiatives.