A payment card or other device is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to communicate data to a magnetic stripe read-head. To protect the recycled energy absorbing layer from moisture, a moisture barrier is laminated on either one or preferably both side surfaces of the recycled energy absorbing layer. 20, 0<y<1, manganese is in the 4+ oxidation state, and M is one or more the first row transition metals: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni or Cu, or other specific other canons: Al, Mg, Mo, W, Ta, Si, Sn, Zr, Be, Ca, Ga, and P, which have an appropriate ionic radii to be inserted in to the structure without unduly disrupting it. Reference ions such as carbon-12 are deflected and measured in an off-axis Faraday cup.