To　obtain　superior　performance　in　adhesion,　polyvinyl　chloride　(PVC)　substrates　were　modified　by　excimer　laser　direct　writing　with　different　operating　wavelengths,　scanning　speeds,　and　laser　fluences.　The　induced　morphological　and　electrochemical　changes　were　detailedly　tested　and　analyzed.　Microchannels　were　formed　on　the　surfaces　of　the　PVC　substrates　due　to　the　laser　ablation,　where　the　melted-resolidified　droplet-like　structures　were　distributed　uniformly　and　can　significantly　improve　the　mechanical　interlock.　Furthermore,　according　to　the　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　and　x-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　analyses,　Lewis　bases　such　as　hydroxyl　and　carbonyl　were　formed　after　laser　treatment,　which　is　beneficial　to　the　adhesion　strength.　These　mechanical　and　chemical　modifications　may　play　positive　roles　in　enhancing　the　bonding　strength　of　the　PVC　edge　bandings.　(C)　2020　Optical　Society　of　America