Synthesis of novel poly (aryl ether sulfone) containing amino groups for gas separation membrane

•A series of novel poly (aryl ether sulfone) (ABPFx) were successfully synthesized.•ABPFx membrane exhibits high gas separation performance for H2/N2.•ABPFx has excellent thermal resistance with the Tg reaching 277 °C. A series of poly (aryl ether sulfone) containing different contents of amino groups (ABPFx) were synthesized by nucleophilic polycondensation reaction. The ABPFx has excellent thermal resistance with the Tg reaching 277 °C as well as maintains good mechanical and film-forming properties. Particularly, the ABPF10 membrane exhibits high gas permeability [P (H2) = 22.24 Bar] and gas selectivity [α (H2/N2) = 63.5]. Consequently, the ABPFx membranes have potential application value in the field of gas separation for hydrogen separation.