Systems, devices and methods for amplification of signals based on a cycling excitation process in disordered materials

A device for amplifying signals of light-induced photocurrent, comprising:

• an anode in electrical contact with a positive terminal of a voltage source;
• a cathode in electrical contact with a negative terminal of the voltage source;
• a disordered material layer coupled to the cathode, wherein the disordered material layer is structured to have a thickness of 100 nm or less;
• and a light absorption layer coupled to the disordered material layer and coupled to the anode, wherein a first electron affinity of the light absorption layer is lower than a second electron affinity of the disordered material layer, and a first sum of the first electron affinity and a first bandgap of the light absorption layer is lower than a second sum of the second electron affinity and a second bandgap of the disordered material layer, the light absorption layer absorbs light incident on the device and causes amplification via a cycling excitation process (CEP) amplification mechanism, wherein the light absorption layer and the disordered material layer are coupled to have a bandgap alignment between the light absorption layer and the disordered material layer that causes an external quantum efficiency of a charge carrier transport between the light absorption layer and the disordered material layer of at least 100%.