Warrants - Issued June 8, 2015 Black Scholes (Details) - $ / shares			12 Months Ended
	Nov. 23, 2015	Jun. 08, 2015	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 June 8, 2015, Liability
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)		500,000	180,000
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)		$ 2.09	$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)		$ 2.65	$ 2.65
Expected volatility		114.60%	102.30%
Risk-free interest rate		1.80%	1.70%
Expected life in years		5 years 6 months	4 years 10 months 24 days
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 June 8, 2015, Liability
Fair value assumptions and methodology for assets and liabilities
Number of warrants (in shares)	320,000
CDTi stock price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.94
Strike price (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70
Expected volatility	110.30%
Risk-free interest rate	1.80%
Expected life in years	5 years 6 months