The combustion characteristics and pollutants emission of ethanol and n-decane liquid fuels with the addition of aluminum nanoparticles have been numerically investigated. The results reveal that Al nanoparticles lead to a reduction of flame temperature of ethanol and decane fuels. Also the temperature peak location will be shifted toward downstream. In addition, mass fraction of pollutants CO and NOx will be decreased by adding nano-aluminum to these fuels. These findings confirm that aluminum nanoparticles improve combustion features of ethanol and decane fuels. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.