This study reviews the electrodeposition of compact films and ZnO nanostructures doped with aluminum, gallium and indium. Electrodeposition in an aqueous perchlorate media favored the formation of relatively compact films with highly preferred orientation along the c-axis. By means of impedance measurements it was able to determine the doping level of each sample. Changing the aqueous perchlorate media to a sulfate one favored the formation of lamellar nanostructures, which did not affect the incorporation of aluminum and gallium impurities. Morphology, optical and crystallographic properties of these films for possible application in fields such as photovoltaics and photocatalysis are analyzed.