The　nickel　ions　(Ni2+)　leaching　is　a　crucial　issue　that　must　be　considered　when　using　nickel-foam　(NF)　as　the　electrode　material.　Here,　the　NF　composite　cathode　(CNTs-nafion/NF/PTFE)　was　fabricated　by　the　facile　dip-coating　process　for　the　atenolol　(ATL)　elimination　in　electro-Fenton　(EF)　system.　The　preparation　conditions　and　experimental　variables　were　investigated　and　optimized.　The　introduction　of　PTFE　hydrophobic　layer　not　only　greatly　enhanced　H2O2　electro-generation,　but　also　effectively　controlled　the　Ni2+　leaching　under　the　acidic　condition　(pH　=　3).　Remarkably,　CNTs-nafion/NF/PTFE　exhibited　a　comparatively　excellent　stability　and　low　Ni2+　leaching　amount　(0.035　ppm)　after　six　consecutive　cycles.　And　the　composite　cathode　showed　favorable　performance　in　20　mg　L-1　An　degradation　using　0.4　mM　Fe2+　under　current　density　9　mA　cm(-2)　and　initial　pH　3.0,　achieving　100%　degradation　efficiency　within　30　min　and　41.7%　TOC　removal　rate　within　120　min.　Further,　it　was　confirmed　that　hydroxyl　radicals　(center　dot　OH)　and　superoxide　anions　(center　dot　O-2)　were　considered　to　be　active　substances　in　the　EF　system,　and　center　dot　OH　played　the　predominant　role.　Also,　the　reasonable　degradation　mechanism　and　reaction　pathways　of　ATL　in　the　EF　process　were　proposed.　Overall,　the　facile　preparation　procedure　and　the　lower　Ni2+　leaching　amount　make　the　NF　composite　cathode　a　practicable　alternative　to　carbonaceous　materials　in　the　EF　system.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.