1-Amino-3-dodecyl-1,2,3-triazolium nitrate, as a novel energetic surfactant, has been synthesized in four steps, namely addition-elimination, cyclization, alkylation and metathesis. Its structure was confirmed by H-1 NMR, IR, and MS. The effects of various reaction parameters, including stoichiometry, reaction temperature and time, were investigated in details. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of this energetic surfactant were measured. (C) 2013 Zhi-Wen Ye. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.