Warrants - Issued November 4, 2014 Black Scholes (Details) - $ / shares				12 Months Ended
	Nov. 27, 2015	Nov. 23, 2015	Nov. 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
Warrants Issued November 4, 2014, Liability
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)					388,393
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)					$ 1.81
Strike price (in dollars per share)					$ 3.25
Expected volatility					86.50%
Risk-free interest rate					1.60%
Expected life in years					4 years 10 months 24 days
Series A Warrants
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)	771,000		388,393	771,000
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39		$ 3.04	$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70		$ 3.25	$ 1.70
Expected volatility	110.30%		87.10%	96.60%
Risk-free interest rate	1.70%		1.60%	1.80%
Expected life in years	5 years 7 months 6 days		5 years	5 years 6 months
Series B Warrants
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)	1,686,138		168,571	1,686,138
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39		$ 3.04	$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
November 23, 2015 Offering
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)		$ 1.22
November 23, 2015 Offering | Warrants Issued November 4, 2014, Liability
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)		388,393
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)		$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)		$ 1.70
Expected volatility		96.60%
Risk-free interest rate		1.60%
Expected life in years		4 years 4 months 24 days
November 23, 2015 Offering | Series A Warrants
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Strike price (in dollars per share)		$ 1.70
November 23, 2015 Offering | Series B Warrants
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Strike price (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01