An　efficient　time　second-order　characteristic　finite　element　method　for　solving　the　nonlinear　multi-component　aerosol　dynamic　equations　is　developed.　While　a　highly　accurate　characteristic　method　is　used　to　treat　the　advection　multi-component　condensation/evaporation　process,　a　time　high-order　extrapolation　along　the　characteristics　is　applied　to　approximate　the　nonlinear　multi-component　coagulation　terms.　The　scheme　is　of　second　order　accuracy　in　time　for　the　multi-component　problems.　We　study　the　theoretical　analysis　and　obtain　the　time　second-order　error　estimate　of　the　scheme.　Numerical　experiments　are　further　given　to　confirm　the　theoretical　results.　The　dynamic　behaviours　of　multi-component　aerosol　distributions　are　also　simulated　for　the　multi-component　aerosol　problems　of　aerosol　water,　black　carbon　and　sulfate　components　with　different　tri-modal　log-normal　initial　distributions.