Warrants - Issued April 4, 2014 Black Scholes (Details) - $ / shares			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 23, 2015	Apr. 04, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)			4,567,207	1,610,069	1,139,535
November 23, 2015 Offering
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.22
Warrants Issued April 4, 2014, Liability
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)		812,000	664,000	812,000
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)		$ 2.95	$ 0.94	$ 1.81
Strike price (in dollars per share)		$ 4.20	$ 4.20	$ 4.20
Expected volatility		84.90%	94.40%	86.60%
Risk-free interest rate		1.90%	1.50%	1.60%
Expected life in years		5 years 6 months	3 years 9 months 18 days	4 years 9 months 18 days
Warrants Issued April 4, 2014, Liability | November 23, 2015 Offering
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)	148,000
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70
Expected volatility	96.70%
Risk-free interest rate	1.60%
Expected life in years	4 years 4 months 24 days