Note 10 - Note Payable (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Nov. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 27, 2013 Proceeds From Loan - 1st Advance [Member] Northern Altair Nanotechnologies [Member] Handan Bank [Member]	Oct. 15, 2013 Proceeds From Loan - 2nd Advance [Member] Northern Altair Nanotechnologies [Member] Handan Bank [Member]	Aug. 08, 2012 Secured Note Payable [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Northern Altair Nanotechnologies [Member] Handan Bank [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Bank of China [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [Member]	Nov. 30, 2012 Daily Interest Rate [Member]	Oct. 31, 2012 Daily Interest Rate [Member]
Note 10 - Note Payable (Details) [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount			$ 3,800,000	$ 2,700,000					$ 1,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage						53.00%			11.00%				56.00%	53.00%
Debt Instrument, Prepaid Interest, Duration									5 months
Payments of Debt Restructuring Costs					19,750
Repayments of Secured Debt					12,500
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal					12,500
Secured Debt	975,000
Increase (Decrease) in Restricted Cash	(3,007,000)	293,000									2,057,900	3,894,180
Proceeds from Loans											1,980,000	3,700,000
Loans Payable to Bank										8,130,000
Proceeds from Notes Payable	$ 5,893,000	$ 1,000,000					$ 4,878,000	$ 3,252,000