Note 4 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) | Sep. 30, 2021USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Mar. 02, 2021USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Jul. 20, 2020USD ($) | Jun. 08, 2020shares | Jan. 01, 2020USD ($) | Oct. 04, 2019$ / sharesshares | Sep. 30, 2021USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Sep. 30, 2020USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020$ / shares |
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 0.0515 | | | | | | $ 0.0515 | | $ 0.0520 |
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued Monthly (in shares) | | | | | | | 88,914,000 | | |
Share Exchange Agreement, Number of Options Authorized (in shares) | | | | 21,500,000 | | | | | |
Share Exchange Agreement, Exchange Ratio | | | | 0.6 | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exchanged (in shares) | | | | | | | 5,000,000 | | |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Stock Options Exchanged for Common Shares (in shares) | | | | | | | 3,000,000 | | |
Stock Cancelled and Reissued During Period (in shares) | | | | | | | 23,000,000 | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 0.105 | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Option, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount | $ | $ 56,173 | | | | | | $ 56,173 | | |
Operating Lease, Expense | $ | | | | | | | 11,340 | $ 22,134 | |
Operating Lease, Payments | $ | 800 | | | | | | | | |
Evonik Operations GmbH [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase Obligation, Total | $ | 92,500 | | | | | | $ 92,500 | $ 185,000 | |
Payments for Research and Development, Supply Agreement | $ | | | $ 92,500 | | | | | | |
Ann Arbor, Michigan [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, to be Paid, Total | $ | | | | | $ 15,120 | | | | |
Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Monthly | $ | | | | | $ 1,260 | | | | |
Ann Arbor, Michigan [Member] | Other Income [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Lease, Other Income | $ | $ 45,000 | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate | | | | | | | 0.00% | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exchanged (in shares) | | | | | | | 5,000,000 | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | | $ 0.105 | | |
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year) | | | | | | | 9 months | | |
Private Placement [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues (in shares) | | 23,500,000 | | | | | | | |
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity, Total | $ | | $ 6,000,000 | | | | | | | |
Warrant Issued in Connection With Credit Agreement [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) | 2,604,000 | | | | | 3,000,000 | 2,604,000 | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 0.052 | | | | | $ 0.052 | $ 0.052 | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Warrants Issued Per Dollar in the Event of Funding Deviation (in shares) | | | | | | | 1.2 | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period (in shares) | | | | | | | 2,604,000 | | |
Warrant Issued in Connection With Credit Agreement [Member] | Measurement Input, Expected Dividend Rate [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Measurement Input | 0 | | | | | | 0 | | |
Warrant Issued in Connection With Credit Agreement [Member] | Minimum [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued Monthly (in shares) | | | | | | 150,000 | 150,000 | | |
Warrant Issued in Connection With Credit Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued Monthly (in shares) | | | | | | 210,000 | 210,000 | | |
Pre-funded Warrant [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) | | 51,500,000 | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | $ 0.0001 | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Issued Monthly (in shares) | | | | | | | 51,500,000 | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Purchase Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | $ 0.08 | | | | | | | |
Warrants [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) | | 82,500,000 | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Purchase Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | $ 0.0799 | | | | | | | |
Placement Agent Warrants [Member] | | | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Number of Securities Called by Warrants or Rights (in shares) | | 6,000,000 | | | | | | | |
Class of Warrant or Right, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | $ 0.10 | | | | | | | |
Warrants Ownership Percentage, Maximum Limit | | 8.00% | | | | | | | |