A photo-responsive reversible cationic surfactant 4-butylazobenzene-4’-(oxyethyl)trimethylammonium bromide (AZTMA) was synthesized from 4-Butylaniline, 1,2-ethylbromide and phenol by the methods of Williamson ether-forming reaction and amination reaction. The structure of AZTMA was characterized by means of H-NMR, and the results indicated that the product obtained was identical to its theoretical structure. The photo-reversible characteristics of AZTMA were analyzed by full wavelength scanning, and the photoisomerization occurred under the irradiation of ultraviolet light at 360 ±5 nm and visible light at ≥ 420 nm. 50 min is need for trans-AZTMA solution under the irradiation of ultraviolet light to achieve equilibrium, and 90 min for cis-AZTMA under visible light irradiation. The critical micella concentration (CMC) values of trans-AZTMA and cis-AZTMA were detected by adopting the platinum plate method. The CMC of trans-AZTMA was 2.0 mmol/L, while that of cis-AZTMA was 6.0 mmol/L. The results indicated that AZTMA possesses good photo-reversible characteristics and the formation and disintegration of AZTMA micelles can be reversibly controlled.