<p>The sol-gel method is a cost-effective technique that has had a global impact on the production of high-quality semiconductor materials. One of the most important applications of semiconductors synthesized by the sol-gel method is heterogeneous photocatalysis for environmental remediation and energy generation because the sol-gel method facilitates the fabrication of high-quality materials with high surface areas and controlled morphology. In addition, this method offers the possibility of obtaining thin films and coatings because the sol can be deposited over any substrate and cover large surfaces with different semiconductors. This work summarizes some of the significant advances obtained so far in North America, where different research groups from Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America have successfully contributed to the development of the synthesis and deposition of metal oxides, heterostructures, and more complex systems such as perovskites, ilmenites, scheelites, and metal-organic frameworks for their application in different photocatalytic processes such as dye degradation, hydrogen production, and CO₂ photoreduction with outstanding efficiencies.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>