A method of forming a solid-state electrochromic device comprising providing a device comprising at least two electrodes, a combination of a gel electrolyte precursor and an electroactive monomer disposed between the at least two electrodes, and a potential source in electrical connection with the at least two electrodes; wherein the electroactive monomer is chosen amongst: wherein each occurrence of Q 1 is independently S, O, or Se; Q 2 is S, O, or N-R 2; each occurrence of Q 3 is independently CH or N; Q 4 is C(R 1) 2, S, O, or N-R 2; each occurrence of Q 5 is independently CH 2, S, or O; each occurrence of R 1 is independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkyl-OH, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 haloalkoxy, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or - C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl; R 2 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; each occurrence of R 3, R 4, R 5, and R 6 independently is hydrogen; optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 1 -C 20 haloalkyl, aryl, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 1 -C 20 haloalkoxy, aryloxy, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 10 alkyl, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-O-aryl, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-aryl; or hydroxyl; each occurrence of R 7 is an electron withdrawing group; each occurrence of R 8 is independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or cyano; each occurrence of R 9 is independently C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 haloalkoxy, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl, or N-R 2; each occurrence of R 10 is independently C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl; E is O or C(R 7) 2; represents an aryl; is C 2, C 4, or C 6 alkenylene, an aryl or heteroaryl; and g is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and combinations thereof. and applying a voltage to the device to polymerize via electrochemical polymerization the electroactive monomer to form a composite comprising conjugated polymer and a crosslinked gel electrolyte composition, wherein the voltage is applied to form the conjugated polymer prior to the crosslinking of the gel electrolyte precursor to gel electrolyte composition. each occurrence of Q 1 is independently S, O, or Se; Q 2 is S, O, or N-R 2; each occurrence of Q 3 is independently CH or N; Q 4 is C(R 1) 2, S, O, or N-R 2; each occurrence of Q 5 is independently CH 2, S, or O; each occurrence of R 1 is independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkyl-OH, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 haloalkoxy, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or - C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl; R 2 is hydrogen or C 1 -C 6 alkyl; each occurrence of R 3, R 4, R 5, and R 6 independently is hydrogen; optionally substituted C 1 -C 20 alkyl, C 1 -C 20 haloalkyl, aryl, C 1 -C 20 alkoxy, C 1 -C 20 haloalkoxy, aryloxy, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 10 alkyl, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-O-aryl, -C 1 -C 10 alkyl-aryl; or hydroxyl; each occurrence of R 7 is an electron withdrawing group; each occurrence of R 8 is independently hydrogen, C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or cyano; each occurrence of R 9 is independently C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, C 1 -C 12 alkoxy, C 1 -C 12 haloalkoxy, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl, or N-R 2; each occurrence of R 10 is independently C 1 -C 12 alkyl, C 1 -C 12 haloalkyl, aryl, -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-C 1 -C 6 alkyl, or -C 1 -C 6 alkyl-O-aryl; E is O or C(R 7) 2; represents an aryl; is C 2, C 4, or C 6 alkenylene, an aryl or heteroaryl; and g is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and combinations thereof. and applying a voltage to the device to polymerize via electrochemical polymerization the electroactive monomer to form a composite comprising conjugated polymer and a crosslinked gel electrolyte composition, wherein the voltage is applied to form the conjugated polymer prior to the crosslinking of the gel electrolyte precursor to gel electrolyte composition.