Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 15, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000883107
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		21,208,162
Entity Public Float			$ 18,748,483