Transistors can function as Zener diodes, particularly by reverse biasing the emitter-base junction, with configurations such as connecting the base and collector together. This method can yield a Zener voltage of approximately 6.3V, but it is not optimized for this purpose. The discussion highlights that while using a transistor as a Zener diode may provide a voltage reference, it introduces challenges such as temperature drift, requiring additional components to mitigate this effect. For discrete designs, utilizing a dedicated Zener diode is recommended due to concerns over long-term stability and current limits.
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