Note 13 - Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 13. Subsequent Events In October 2012, the Company entered into a contract with TSK Solar, a leading energy EPC contractor and engineering firm, to provide an ALTI ESS Advantage system for a renewable integration project at the San Fermin 26 MW photovoltaic solar farm in Loiza, Puerto Rico. The system shall be delivered and commissioned by the end of December 2012. The Company received an initial down payment of $343,000 in October for the system. In November 2012, the 2 MW ALTI ESS Advantage system successfully shipped to Puerto Rico. In October 2012, the Company and Northern Altair entered into a series of transactions, wherein, Northern Altair set aside, as restricted cash, $2 million with the Bank of China. In return, the Bank of China loaned the Company $2 million for use as operating capital. The proceeds of the loan were $1.98 million after prepaid fees were deducted. In October 2012, the Company settled the JMP matter and made an initial settlement payment on October 31, 2012. The remainder of the five settlement payments shall be paid over the next six months. Our affiliate, Canon Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. guaranteed the Company’s settlement payments, which facilitated the payment plan. The Company also settled the Charles Cheng matter and made a single lump sum payment to Mr. Cheng on November 1, 2012 through its China-based affiliate, Northern Altair Nanotechnologies Co., Ltd. (“Northern Altair”). The total agreed upon settlement amount for both matters was $2.95 million. The Company reduced the total accrual to $2.95 million, as of September 30, 2012 and stock issuance cost included within common stock, as the settlement is directly related to the Canon Stock Subscription agreement completed in 2011. On October 25, 2012, Northern Altair successfully completed a bidding process for a 66 acre parcel of land in Wu’an China, which will be used for the Company’s nLTO and energy storage system (“ESS”) manufacturing operations in China. On October 31, 2012, Northern Altair entered into a Contract on Assignment of State-owned Construction Land Use Right (the "Land-Use Agreement"), pursuant to which Northern Altair will acquire the right to use the 66 acres of commercial land north of Dongzhuchang Village in Wu'an City, China for a period of 50 years subject to the terms and conditions of the Land-Use Agreement. As consideration for the land use right, Northern Altair paid a land use fee of approximately $12 million and land transfer taxes and fees of approximately $1.9 million and agreed to make fixed asset investments on the land of approximately $167 million over an unspecified period of time, with initial construction to begin by March 31, 2013. The total fixed asset investments shall include the cost of buildings, structures, auxiliary facilities, and equipment, as well as the land-use fee. Northern Altair may transfer and sublease portions of the granted land once it has invested 25% of the total fixed asset investments amount and completed 25% of the project. Closing occurred on November 9, 2012. Separate from the Land-Use Agreement, Northern Altair is in the midst of negotiating with Wu’an City regarding a package of incentives to facilitate Northern Altair’s establishment of operations and construction efforts. The actual scope of Northern Altair’s construction project and manufacturing operations will be based on the anticipated market demand for the Company’s products and on the level of negotiated incentives. On November 1, 2012, Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (the "Company") entered into a Commercial/Investment Property Purchase Agreement with Wayne Rankin, Lee Rankin and Randy Rankin related to the sale of the Company’s Reno, Nevada Facility for a purchase price of $2,200,000. Under the Agreement, Altair has agreed to lease the facility for 10 months following closing at a rate of $21,000 per month. Closing is conditioned upon the buyers’ approval of a Phase 2 Environmental Survey and soil report and, assuming satisfaction of such conditions, is expected to occur within 30 days.

Note 13 - Subsequent Events

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

Note 13. Subsequent Events

In October 2012, the Company entered into a contract with TSK Solar, a leading energy EPC contractor and engineering firm, to provide an ALTI ESS Advantage system for a renewable integration project at the San Fermin 26 MW photovoltaic solar farm in Loiza, Puerto Rico. The system shall be delivered and commissioned by the end of December 2012. The Company received an initial down payment of $343,000 in October for the system. In November 2012, the 2 MW ALTI ESS Advantage system successfully shipped to Puerto Rico.

In October 2012, the Company and Northern Altair entered into a series of transactions, wherein, Northern Altair set aside, as restricted cash, $2 million with the Bank of China. In return, the Bank of China loaned the Company $2 million for use as operating capital. The proceeds of the loan were $1.98 million after prepaid fees were deducted.

In October 2012, the Company settled the JMP matter and made an initial settlement payment on October 31, 2012. The remainder of the five settlement payments shall be paid over the next six months. Our affiliate, Canon Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. guaranteed the Company’s settlement payments, which facilitated the payment plan. The Company also settled the Charles Cheng matter and made a single lump sum payment to Mr. Cheng on November 1, 2012 through its China-based affiliate, Northern Altair Nanotechnologies Co., Ltd. (“Northern Altair”). The total agreed upon settlement amount for both matters was $2.95 million. The Company reduced the total accrual to $2.95 million, as of September 30, 2012 and stock issuance cost included within common stock, as the settlement is directly related to the Canon Stock Subscription agreement completed in 2011.

On October 25, 2012, Northern Altair successfully completed a bidding process for a 66 acre parcel of land in Wu’an China, which will be used for the Company’s nLTO and energy storage system (“ESS”) manufacturing operations in China. On October 31, 2012, Northern Altair entered into a Contract on Assignment of State-owned Construction Land Use Right (the "Land-Use Agreement"), pursuant to which Northern Altair will acquire the right to use the 66 acres of commercial land north of Dongzhuchang Village in Wu'an City, China for a period of 50 years subject to the terms and conditions of the Land-Use Agreement. As consideration for the land use right, Northern Altair paid a land use fee of approximately $12 million and land transfer taxes and fees of approximately $1.9 million and agreed to make fixed asset investments on the land of approximately $167 million over an unspecified period of time, with initial construction to begin by March 31, 2013. The total fixed asset investments shall include the cost of buildings, structures, auxiliary facilities, and equipment, as well as the land-use fee. Northern Altair may transfer and sublease portions of the granted land once it has invested 25% of the total fixed asset investments amount and completed 25% of the project. Closing occurred on November 9, 2012. Separate from the Land-Use Agreement, Northern Altair is in the midst of negotiating with Wu’an City regarding a package of incentives to facilitate Northern Altair’s establishment of operations and construction efforts. The actual scope of Northern Altair’s construction project and manufacturing operations will be based on the anticipated market demand for the Company’s products and on the level of negotiated incentives.

On November 1, 2012, Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. (the "Company") entered into a Commercial/Investment Property Purchase Agreement with Wayne Rankin, Lee Rankin and Randy Rankin related to the sale of the Company’s Reno, Nevada Facility for a purchase price of $2,200,000. Under the Agreement, Altair has agreed to lease the facility for 10 months following closing at a rate of $21,000 per month. Closing is conditioned upon the buyers’ approval of a Phase 2 Environmental Survey and soil report and, assuming satisfaction of such conditions, is expected to occur within 30 days.