Spray characteristics of fuel with cerium oxide nanoparticles

•Spray characteristics were studied by combining experiment and CFD simulation.•Nano-fuel spray appeared longer penetration distance, smaller cone angle and larger SMD.•Increasing nanoparticles’ concentration widened the gap in spray between nano-fuel and diesel.•Spray of nano-fuel with higher mass concentration developed more quickly.•Injection pressure affected fuel spray the most by grey relationship analysis.