A method for forming electrically conductive polyaniline (PANI)-based composites includes mixing a base form of PANI, a photo acid generator (PAG), and when the PAG does not hydrogen bond to the base form of PANI an additive which can form hydrogen bonds with the base form of PANI or PAG, together with at least one solvent to form a mixture. The solvent is removed from the mixture. After the removing, the mixture is photo-irradiated with a wavelength within an absorption band of the PAG for converting the base form of PANI to a salt form of PANI to form a polymer composite that includes the salt form of PANI. The polymer composite has a 25° C. electrical conductivity that is at least 3 orders of magnitude higher than a 25° C. electrical conductivity of the base form of PANI, such as a 25° C. electrical conductivity of ≧0.01 S/cm.